On Father's Day, Let's Not Forget Priests

Priests get a bad rap these days. In secular communities (and sadly some religious ones) people think "priest" is synonymous with "pedaphilie". They make jokes about it, which is demented. It's like saying every pediatrician hurts toddlers because Dr. Earl Bradley did. Or every televangelist sleeps with prostitutes because Jimmy Swaggart did. Or every politician sends lewd texts because Anthony Weiner did.

For every one child molester, there are thousands of pastors who would cut their arms off before harming anyone. For every sick priest, there are thousands of healthy religious leaders who sacrifice daily for their congregation. This Father's Day, let's take a few moments to honor the men who does so much good in their parish, their communities and their world. Let's hear it for the priests.

I've been blessed to count many priests in my circle of friends. Some of the most nurturing, healing moments in my life were when I received the sacraments of Holy Communion, Confirmation and Reconciliation from them. They have baptized my children, prayed for them, loved them like their own. They have absolved me of sins I carried for decades.

Our parish priest Fr. William Langlois is giant among men. He is that wonderful combination of tender-hearted, stout-hearted and light-hearted. He has prayed me personally through dozens of problems and my congregation through thousands. He goes out and meets with people in every sector of life. There is no one he refuses to see.

When our youngest daughter was in pre-natal trauma, he drove to Grand Rapids (an hour away) to tell us he loved us. When two more infant daughters died, he officiated over their memorial services and helped us place their tiny, white coffins in the ground. He didn't tell us false platitudes. He didn't paste a fake smile on his face. He cried with us.

When the twin towers fell, we instinctively headed to church for solace and he was there. He buys whatever silly thing the kids are selling for school. As he puts it, "I don't have any children to buy from." When any appeal is made for funds, his money is first in the offering plate. He gives every graduate a financial gift. He passes out cool candy and holy cards at the rectory every Halloween. He hugs old men, mothers, teen boys, young girls, babies, everyone.

He takes it personally when someone leaves the church. It honestly hurts him; he misses them and worries about them. Father Bill is loud and funny and smiley. He is passionate and earnest. He has the deepest reservoir for love of anyone I have ever met.

If I could knight him, I would make him Sir William the Lion-Hearted, warrior-friend of the downtrodden. If I was petitioning his cause for sainthood, (which I can't do yet because you have to die first and no one wants to lose Fr. Bill), I will nominate him patron saint of the inner child. That and of the Detroit Lions. Oh wait, we already have a patron saint for lost causes.

I have many special men in my life who I honor at Father's Day. A paternity test alone does not a father make. There's an old saying, "any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a daddy." In the priestly vocation, Fr. Bill is a daddy to us all.