zeldasmith: I wrote a collection of poems in 1990 titled SWEET NECTAR. Presently I am writing my memoirs and a book on the experience I had as a parish secretary/organist/music director. The priest I worked for was verbally abusive to me. He aimed a BB gun at me one day while I was sitting at my desk and threatened to pull the trigger if I made another mistake in the bulletin. He humiliated me in front of my peers twice. Plus more. I worked for him for 14 years before he retired. I thought I woke up and went to heaven when the new pastor came. But now I'm retired and I have the time to write. My goal is to have the first draft done by November.
    William Walz: Swell bunch of fellas, them priests--ain't they? -
    zeldasmith: I only speak for the onr I worked for. There are many, many priests who are who they are supposed to be. I am friends with several and none have ever disrespected me like this one. He's still alive but moved to Florida. He's Polish and immigrated to the US when he was 12. So his mind thought is that a woman cannot be smarter than a man. If you get my gist. Very chauvenistic. Of course I'll have to change names in the book because I'm still active in the parish. As for those other priests that have made a name for themselves abominable to God....they are a small percentage compared to those who are faithfully seeking God's grace to build up the kingdom of God. -
    DIS-illusioned: Um, just wondering...did you make another mistake in the bulletin?
    :-D -
    redrider6612: Religious leaders are human like the rest of us, they make mistakes, they SIN like everybody does. That doesn't invalidate God's Word in the least. I'm glad your experiences didn't turn you away from your faith. Praise God for that! -
    zeldasmith: As for the mistakes in the bulletin ...funny you should ask...LOL
    And my faith is stronger from the experience. God is my higher power. -
    Ben Colder : I too was a student in Longwidge Writing College. Have fun. -
    zeldasmith: What course did you take and when to you graduate? -
    Dollie Mason: I agree with what has been said, but after all they are only human and humans have faults. My son and I wrote a, in fact it was our first fiction and deals with the subject of unfaithful priest in the church. Although, I paid a small fortune to have it edited it is full of still full of mistakes. It is in Switched on Death Row. If anyone is interested I have been told it has a great story once you get by the errors...I am amazed at what some will do and try to excuse it as working for the God. I love your work and look forward to reading more of it. Hope you have a good day. -
    zeldasmith: I'd be interested in reading your book. Well having been around priests for most of my married life...I had my first communion on my wedding day almost 42 years ago...I was able to pick out the truly Christ-like priests ....those who live the gospel message as well as spread the Good News...from the intellectual ones...boriiiing...to the ones who use the priest hood as a free ride and do what they please...to the ones who hide behind the cloth to lure little people into their beds.Our current pastor...I worked for him for 4 years...is a good man and tries to live a good priestly life but he's far from being humble and because he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth of a large Italian family, he doesn't know what its like to want for anything especially food.And he treats his duties like a regular job. The machine goes on at 5pm. Although, many parishioners have his cell number. but he rarely will do a funeral on his day off which is Monday. Another priest, God rest his soul, who would fill in for us was one of the sweetest personalities I've ever met. Never a bad word from his mouth. Always smiling. I asked msgr. one day if he ever got angry or mad at anything or anyone. And he couldn't recall one time in his life when he was angry. He was also a chaplin in the navy.
    There were only a handful of people and those at the 5pm mass the day he humiliated me, that knew about his drinking, temper and filthy mouth because they were witness to how he treated me. If I told his then goupies what he was like...they would've accused me of ruining his name let alone the head job he did on me. Once I'm done the book and before I send it to get published, I'm going to have my close priest friend read it and give it a review. Well actually I have another close priest monsignor friend who's in the chancery...he and my husband were buddies in and out of school.I might ask him for his review of it too. I don't want anyones sympathy;I don't want publicity; and I don't want to stir up any trouble in the diocese. I just want the truth to be told how I remember it because from experience there are other secretary's who are going through the same stuff. I think he knows the hell he put me through and is probably in penance each day when he celebrates mass. But he never apologized to me for the horrible behavior he exercised in front of me. Thank you for sharing. -
    Bojenn: Omg. What a story! I pity his poor wife. Was he married? A wolf in sheeps clothing for sure.
    My goodness. -
    Bojenn: Zelda on my FB page I do a lot of promotion of exposing spousal abuse.

    I was wondering if I could use your comments if I change your name and place of work? I don't want to be sued! -
    angelface2: Bojenn Catholic priests don't marry. LOL>
    Most priests I have known have been pretty good. I did not grow up Catholic, but turned when I married my husband. My husband is gone and I have left the Catholic church because of a scandal. I just didn't think I could honestly worship there anymore. I am happy with my church now. I am glad you stayed with your beliefs Zelda. Miss Sally -
    The Death: Hello:-)
    haven't heard from you for so long.so just buzzed in.i hope you are having wonderful time -
    The Death: Yes,i have read your stuff for sure:-) -
    angelface2: Hi Zelda. We had a priest in our parish that was caught in a sting, doing pornography, but it extended to the students in school. I don't think he actually hurt anyone, but there had been women who complained about his touching in too personal way, also. It just kind of blew my mind that I was in a place where that was allowed. He was an assistant priest and the head priest was very upset when he found out about this, as he should have noticed some signs. -
    angelface2: this happened when the scandal was still going on about priests. I talked to our priest about it, but I just didn't think I could go there anymore. I love the church I have now. -
    zeldasmith: I have to take a break weekly now because I was spending too much time on this addictive site...wasn't getting anything done....but thus fa...I've written a lot of one character in my book...rough draft of course and
    Probably needs more work...also worked on my bio...about when I met my Mr. Wonderful 42 years ago....I am making progress....now for the next two weeks I have to work on my two writing lessons for school. Thanks for asking. -