Exposing the Hidden Enemies of the Priesthood in an Era of Christian Civilization

Priesthood is a state of life that is significantly pivotal in any society. In ancient times, those that are privileged to receive this call were placed at the topmost social and religious class because of their nexus to the divine. In the mediaeval ages the case was not different, and lastly in our contemporary age, despite menace of anti-clericalism and pockets of abuse; Priests can still hold their heads high in the modern world. There is no gainsaying the fact the world is stupendously transforming into a global village with the advancement of computer, technology, internet usage and general facilitation of contemporary existential phenomena, it becomes most expedient that the modern-day priests should not be found wanting in the global quest for civilization. The Preacher of the Enugu diocesan annual priests retreat of this year 2021, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Franklin Eze has striven to contextualize the modern- day priest within the magnifying lens of civilization. It is necessary for the priest to be computer literate, know how to browse the internet and marry this civilizational trend of our epoch with his spiritual and religiouspursuit. Does the modern -day priest need to emancipate himself from ignorance and furnish himself with universal knowledge of things. Does living in pride and self- sufficiency hamper the call. Is it possible that the modern -day priest can suffer from spiritual amnesia. How does the priest grapple with anger, vainglory, disobedience to ecclesiastical authority, envy, avarice, hypocritical life style, consumerism etc. The author highlighted on these evils ravaging the priesthood with the intention of focusing and stripping these masquerades off, while proffering solutions on how the modern-day priest can be veritable instrument in the hand of the progenitor of priesthood; Jesus Christ the High Priest. The modern-day priest should not just move with time but even try to ‘over-take’ time in order to make the gospel meaningful to the modern age that is easily swayed by the awful doctrines and trending corruption embedded in the society.