ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at their contrasting styles and at the priest’s position in the community. The priest traditionally has occupied an ambiguous niche in Greek life. In the Greek village the priest was both a figure of awe and a character of derision. The church’s early experience in America had worked to delimit the priest’s power and authority. The Archdiocese took steps to control assignment of priests, impose financial requirements on local churches for support of the Archdiocese, and to promulgate and enforce its Uniform Parish Bylaws. The priest’s emphasis on those with power and money has, they charge, resulted in a corresponding neglect of out groups- particularly young people, and also the elderly. The priest’s most avid supporters—many of the successful immigrants as well as a number of second generation individuals- comprise an ad hoc coalition. The priest is an ex officio member, entitled to express his opinions and to exert whatever influence he can, but without a vote.
