NEW JERSEY
Star-Ledger
BY JERRY BARCA
Star-Ledger Staff
The Roman Catholic priesthood will undergo some drastic changes in the wake of the scandal that rocked the church last year, according to active and former priests in the Paterson Diocese.
“I hope we don’t lose the opportunity to make change happen,” said the Rev. Michael Drury, pastor of St. Luke’s in Long Valley. “We have to stand up as a whole church.”
Drury and the Rev. Dennis Crowley of Assumption parish in Morristown spoke about the future of the priesthood as part of a panel discussion last night at St. Anthony’s Church in Butler.
Both priests said the sex abuse scandal, which likely will worsen a current priest shortage, is a catalyst for the changes.
