UPDATE on Jonathan Morris: ‘The Coming Months Will Be Full of Change for Me’

Last updated on: June 10, 2019 at 10:19 pm by Deacon Greg Kandra

UPDATE on Jonathan Morris: ‘The Coming Months Will Be Full of Change for Me’ 2019-06-10T22:19:50-04:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

UPDATE: The interview described below took place Monday night. In it, Morris says he had a brief relationship when he was in the seminary, at the age of 28, and immediately told his superiors about it and said he didn’t want to be ordained. The superiors flew him to Mexico to meet personally with the founder of the Legionaries of Christ, Father Marcial Maciel, who told him to act as if the affair never happened. Following that, they moved up his ordination. You can watch the full video of the interview at the bottom of the post.

This item was posted Monday morning:

While I loved and thrived in so many aspects of my ministry, deep in my interior I struggled for years with my vocation and with the commitments the Catholic priesthood demands, especially not being able to marry and have a family.

Via Twitter

This week marks another step on this journey. I will be interviewed by Martha McCallum on Monday on “The Story” at 7 pm ET about my decision to leave the priesthood.

This comes after my former superior, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, graciously helped me through the first steps of the dispensation process. Upon my request, he has officially suspended my exercise of sacred ministry.

This is why I will do the interview in suit and tie rather than in clerical garb. Today I practiced tying a tie for the first time in twenty-five years. I found out that tying a tie is a lot like riding a bike…you never forget.

I am doing this interview because I want you to hear directly from me in the forum where some of you have seen me for the last fourteen years.

…The coming months will be full of change for me.

First, I will take some more time for rest and retreat as I finish my sabbatical. Then I will begin the task of discerning next steps in my professional life.

This will involve not only a decision of what industry to pursue, but also where to live.

My parents and siblings are advocating for the Midwest where most of them live. Being close to them would be a huge blessing!

As daunting as all of this change is, I am reminded often in prayer that the most important thing in my life has not changed. As a friend recently wrote to me, “You’re still working for the same boss!”

The same God who was by my side as a priest is by my side today and will be forever. This is my time to trust in Him like I have never had to do before.

Read on.

MONDAY NIGHT UPDATE: You can now watch the video below:

Priests

Jonathan Morris

Previous Post

June 10, 2019

It's Everywhere: Evangelicals Confront Their Own Sex Abuse Crisis

Next Post

June 10, 2019 New York Bill Would Legalize Prostitution

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "Mad Men" 9/11 advent All Things New Amazing video amazing videos amazon america Anglicans Anti-Catholicism art ascension thursday ash wednesday Atheists baltimore Bible Bishops Blogging bonnie engstrom Books bridgeport Brooklyn Chaplains children christian art christmas Church Churches CNEWA Converts criticism Deacons Death Penalty easter eastern christian Eastern Christians Ecumenism Education education Eucharist Europe euthanasia Evangelization Exorcism Family Feasts Gay rights Good Friday Great links Great Moments in Journalism Hanging with the saints heather renshaw Hispanic Catholics Hispanics History homelies Homilies Humor Hymn of the Week Immigration indianapolis Inspiration Interfaith news ireland Jesus Jews Journalism Judaism lent Liturgy logos Marriage Mary Media Medical news Mental health Middle East Monks Movies Music Muslims My world and welcome to it New Evangelization new york News Nuns Parenting Parish life peoria Persecution politics Politics Pope pope francis pope john paul Prayer Preaching Priests Pro-life Quote of the day radio rebecca frech ripp Ripped from the headlines rippred from the headlines Sacraments saints Scripture sex abuse Sex abuse crisis SEX ABUSE CRISIS TAGGED WITH: SEX ABUSE CRISIS The people in the pews the visitation project theatre This & that Thomas Merton Trappists TV uncategorized Uncategorized VATICAN Vatican vocation Vocations Voices & Views Women Worth a thousand words Writing Year of Faith year of mercy young people

Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Eve eat in the Garden of Eden?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A vine branch Bread An unclean animal Fruit from the Tree of Knowledge

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »