http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/veteran-jesuit-explains-choice-return-lay-life

On July 15th, there was an entry on the Association of Priests Ireland website, that took my breath away! Bert Thelen formerly, FATHER Bert Thelen, a Jesuit Priest from Iowa, decided to return to the lay life. On July 16th, the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel......a Feast Day extremely important for me, the above link appeared in the National Catholic Reporter. In this link, you will find Bert Thelen's letter to family, friends, colleagues, and the Church explaining his decision, a decision that he has made after 45 years of clerical ministry and at the young age of 80.

In my exuberance and heartfelt thanksgiving for him, I telephoned him, and it was one of the most hopeful and substantive conversations I have had with anyone in the Church for many years.

I'll not reiterate what Bert relates in the letter, except to say, that he has absolutely no regrets about his 45 year ministry and he harbors no resentment about anyone. There is not one shred of bitterness or negativity in his address. He says that he has struggled for 15 years with the way the Church does business (paraphrased) which is in a "power over" model. He experienced himself as part of a system that is fundamentally unjust (paraphrased) and he just could not be a part of it any longer. This is the central point of his leaving, but, there is far more to his theology and spirituality that what I have said.

Bert Thelen is a man who resonates with the "spirit of Vatican II", a spirit created anew in Jesus Christ. That in-breaking of a new spirit at Vatican II created and was meant to create "New Wine". Bert Thelen at age 80 is New Wine and so I encourage you to read his story and his letter to discover more of the man in Christ, that he is......

I believe his decision has the potential to accelerate renewal. Whether it does or not, Bert Thelen's decision is of insurmountable importance because it zeros in on the systemic sin of the Church, clericalism. As long as clericalism is allowed to thrive, the Roman Catholic Universal Church will be as the Pope says, "stale and sick."

Thank you Bert Thelen for your outstanding leadership which only gets better!

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