A letter to the editor of The Living Church (Dec. 16, 1979)
David Sumner's letter [TLC, Oct. 28] about the clergy's use of tobacco as a possible impediment to "wholesomeness" opens the door further to our self-examination. Who among us have become quite smug about a current position or gift? (Pride?) Who among us are not on speaking terms with a parishioner or fellow clergy? (Anger?) Who among us crave for more power and prestige? (Covetousness?) Who among us have been unfaithful to our spouses? (Lust?) Who among us are unable to celebrate the excellence of fellow clergy? (Envy?) Who among us are disorganized and lazy? (Sloth?) Who among us drink too much alcohol or are self-fatted? (Gluttony?)
At what point does one or more of these conditions require us to judge ourselves as unwholesome? Are there others?
(The Rev.) Richard T. Nolan
ADDENDUM (June, 2000)
It strikes me these 20+ years later that we need to take a pastoral, prophetic look at ourselves as individuals as well as toward society “out there.” A balanced prophetic ministry includes God’s will for us individually and corporately as well as for social, political and economic institutions here and abroad. (Such a look need not be a relentless bashing of ourselves as individuals, the Church, or society.) [See “Who Am I?” “Love and Friendship,” “Marriage and the Family,” and “Mental and Physical Health” – chapters in Nolan and Kirkpatrick, Living Issues in Ethics (1982, 2000].