Method & Intent
As we look forward to the Holy Father’s pastoral visit to the United States, it is fitting to report the initiative of prayer and witness involving 1,250 priests (including several bishops) of the United States have undertaken in support of marriage and families. Our witness is one of love and fidelity and our numbers are a mere sampling of the faith and sentiment of thousands of priests in the United States.
In an age in which unfortunately there’s great confusion about marriage in our culture, a confusion that often affects the parishioners we serve, we believe that it’s important publicly to affirm with charity the Good News about Marriage “in the beginning” and join our prayers to those the Holy Father has solicited in anticipation of the Ordinary Synod of Bishops this October.
The initiative is in response to Pope Francis’ desire that we be cheerfully forthright with our superiors. The list includes the names of priests who are renowned scholars, priests of rank, and even a few bishops; but mostly ordinary priests from busy parishes and schools, many from inner cities.
Though a couple of Catholic news sites have taken note of this effort, we have deliberately avoided any aggressive media effort beyond just trying to get the word out to our priest brothers by word of mouth and by way of the Internet. The signatures to the Statement of Belief were taken using this Internet web site (CredoPriests.org). Nearly 1200 names were added between Easter Sunday, 2015 and the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, 2015.
The list of priests is presented in alphabetical order, regardless of clerical rank. To the best of our ability we believe the list represents Catholic priests in good standing who live and minister in the United States of America. I am confident of its overall integrity and believe it is honest and reasonably accurate, even as I regret any errors.
The filial piety of these priests is a precious gift of fidelity to Christ and His Church, and to Pope Francis, the Vicar of Christ, and to all the bishops in union with him.
Rev. Jerry J. Pokorsky
Administrator of Credo Priests
