Invitation From Archbishop : Resigned Jesuit Refuses Offer to Serve as Priest

Resigned Jesuit Terrance A. Sweeney said Thursday he had “definitely declined” an invitation by Archbishop Roger Mahony to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles because of unacceptable conditions attached to the offer.

Sweeney said Mahony told him to avoid media attention and to low-key his controversial research into the Roman Catholic priesthood.

The Emmy Award-winning priest, noted for his film and television work, quit the Jesuit order last August under Vatican pressure to stop his survey of opinions of the U.S. bishops toward celibacy and women priests. Later, Sweeney released his findings that nearly one-fourth of the 145 responding prelates favored optional celibacy and about 8% said women’s ordination should be permitted. The Roman Catholic Church forbids both.

In a Nov. 17 letter, Sweeney wrote Mahony: “In light of your repeated concern that I not be a part of an ‘ongoing media focus’ . . . I think it both right and more Christ-like to decline the offer you wanted me to consider regarding (priestly) faculties.”

Mahony, who was attending meetings in Washington on Thursday, could not be reached for comment.

“Archbishop Mahony and I are very far apart on what’s appropriate regarding research and the media on some matters vitally affecting the well-being of the church, and my part as a priest in this,” Sweeney said in a telephone interview Thursday. “The only way I could accept his offer was if we were in harmony.”

Earlier, Mahony had said he offered Sweeney the right to function as a priest--to publicly say Mass and celebrate the church’s other sacraments--but without assignment to a parish. The temporary job was to assist in media planning for Pope John Paul II’s visit to Southern California next September, according to Sweeney.

A series of letters from Sweeney to Mahony regarding negotiations on the matter was furnished by Sweeney to The Times on Thursday. In his Nov. 17 letter, Sweeney quoted Mahony as writing him that the research should “not continue to be a primary part of your current or future ministry.”

Although Mahony had previously criticized Sweeney’s survey as being scientifically inadequate, he acknowledged the need for “quality research” on the priesthood and declining Catholic religious vocations.

Despite his resignation from the Jesuits, Sweeney, 41, remains a priest. But he cannot publicly function as one unless a bishop accepts him into a diocese and grants him the necessary powers.