The Catholic Church has been importing priests from foreign counties to serve as a stop gap for the growing priest shortage. Currently, 50% of all new priests in the US not not American. This troubles some who worry that foreign priests come with a new set of challenges and controversies.
Parishioners complain that foreign priests are too conservative and their accents make it difficult to understand. Church officials worry that the US will become a missionary country unable to support its own churches. There is also the worry that the US is creating a brain drain on the rest of the world, demanding an unfair share of priests leaving poorer countries with none.
This 59 minute documentary (with or without newsholes) closely examines the problems associated in using foreign priests. It also looks at the benefits foreign priests bring.
This program is suitable year round, however it would make fresh Easter or Christmas fare. There is also an opportunity to make the story local by interviewing a foreign priest in your region. A list of interview questions has been provided.
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Piece Description
The Catholic Church has been importing priests from foreign counties to serve as a stop gap for the growing priest shortage. Currently, 50% of all new priests in the US not not American. This troubles some who worry that foreign priests come with a new set of challenges and controversies. Parishioners complain that foreign priests are too conservative and their accents make it difficult to understand. Church officials worry that the US will become a missionary country unable to support its own churches. There is also the worry that the US is creating a brain drain on the rest of the world, demanding an unfair share of priests leaving poorer countries with none. This 59 minute documentary (with or without newsholes) closely examines the problems associated in using foreign priests. It also looks at the benefits foreign priests bring. This program is suitable year round, however it would make fresh Easter or Christmas fare. There is also an opportunity to make the story local by interviewing a foreign priest in your region. A list of interview questions has been provided.
Broadcast History
Portions have been aired on WSHU, VOA, and CBS Radio
Transcript
60min_IP_BBandSegA
January 31, 2006
Charles Lane
V.1
BILLBOARD
NAR1 Catholics have an old saying, you don’t actually have to believe in God so long as you do what the priest says. But what if your priest talks like this. (:12)
SOT (10/10/05 #1) T7 ~-2:20, Fr_moise_am_working_inDRVC.wav (:12)
WHEN DID YOU COME TO THE US?
In 1990. I am working in . . . ??? . . . ??? [indecipherable English]
NAR2 They are called international priests and they are coming over in droves from foreign countries to serve American Catholics. Only not everyone in the Church agrees that they should be. (:11)
RT: :35
SOT Fr_mcguire_just_turn_him_off.wav (:10)
I had a man come here and he says, “back in my home parish we have this guy that I just can’t understand at all, when ever he speaks I just can’t understand a single thing he says.”
NAR3 T...
Read the full transcript
Timing and Cues
TBA
Musical Works
TBA
Additional Files
- Picture of Sister Margaret (picSrMargaretweb.jpg)
- Questions to Ask a Local Priest (QuestionstoAskaLocalPriest.doc)
- Picture of Father Cine (picfrcine.jpg)
- Picture of Father Pastor (picfrpastor.jpg)
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Posted on April 07, 2006 at 01:36 AM | Permalink
Review of Foreign Priests in America (59 and 54 minute versions)
An interesting topic, comprehensively researched by reporter/presenter Charles Lane, which makes obvious sense for Sunday programming. However, I'm not convinced the 59 minute version I listened to would hold the interest of the unconverted, so to speak. There was a wide range of issues discussed by a large cast of interesting voices... traditional theology versus American culture, missionary versus economic incentives, language & the us versus them mentality.
However the first half of the program is heavily driven by the narration which is often repetitive and sometimes intrusive. The second half allows some of the speakers more time, but by then it feels as if they are being stretched a bit to fill the hour. I would've liked to hear more from the foreign priests, instead of others relating their difficulties or feelings for them. Also, the use of sound was not so well-balanced throughout the hour - short, merely illustrative use in the beginning and longer, but not more interesting stretches toward the end. And he must have collected more music than the one hymn which seemed to be used over and over.
I particularly like the sequences about the "Aculturation School" foreign priests attend and the power of the holy dollar (my view) to attract priests from developing countries. I like long-form work, but for some reason I think this subject might better be served in segments for a broader listening public. For stations with religious programming, the whole hour would probably interest listeners. Personally, I think a great half-hour documentary is hidden in there somewhere.