Priests in Boston who had hoped to retire soon have been asked to stay on a bit longer. The Archdiocese of Boston, faced with a priest shortage, has raised the priestly retirement age from 70 to 75 (health permitting).
The Boston Globe reports that the change, which is effective Aug. 1, was announced to priests of the diocese via e-mail on July 21 sent by Father Richard Erikson, vicar general for the archdiocese.
Father Erikson said that healthy priests can continue to seek the status of “senior priest’’ at 70, but then will be required to fill in for priests who are sick or on vacation.
In addition to the retirement age change, the archdiocese is attempting a variety of efforts to deal with fewer priests. The archdiocese has closed nearly 20% of its parishes over the last five years and also increased the number of priests assigned to multiple parishes.
“When you have a pope that’s in his 80s, the rest of us can work, too,” said Father David Toupes, director of the Secretariat for Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
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Fr. Toupe’s comment, if quoted correctly, is innane and uncalled for!
I work side-by-side with federal government workers who regularly retire with full benefits at 55 years of age. My brother works for GM and is eligible for his retirement at 53. Police officers and U.S. soldiers are retiring even before 50 years with full retirements. What is Fr. Toupe’s advice to them?
Priests work around the clock at least 6 days per week. Many do not take their full days off and do not take their allocated vacation time. Bishops often insist that a day off equals 24 hrs and no more.
I am from a diocese where the bishop raised the retirement age unilaterally from 65 to 70 years old about 4 years ago. Reason given was the shortage of priests to cover the pastoral duties of the diocese and parishes. In other words, due to the fewer men who answer God’s call, the ones still on duty will be saddled with ever extended duties and a delayed retirement. Ride the horse until it collapses in the barn? The Church teaches that a just retirement is due to persons…except priests and bishops it seems as long as their is a shortage.
Priests give up so much already to serve the Church and with very little entitlement or autonomy. Most are overly generous with their time and resources. That makes Fr. Toupe’s comment and the direction of his diocese seem ungrateful and dismissive, possibly even callous to a degree.
I’m clear that many people are unable to retire due to the economic conditions in our society. Others obviously receive abundant benefit and early retirement to boot. I grieve for those persons who struggle every inch of the way to keep their heads above water economically speaking and cannot afford to retire.
The sad thing is Fr. Toupe’s comment is directed toward already hardworking priests and bishops and it levels a standard that ought to be universally applicable if he’s going to make that challenge. Fr. Toupe, ought all people be required to work until 80 and after because the Pope is still working?
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