{"id":488,"date":"2009-02-24T01:28:00","date_gmt":"2009-02-24T05:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/polish\/?p=488"},"modified":"2009-02-24T01:28:00","modified_gmt":"2009-02-24T05:28:00","slug":"problems-with-priests-in-plural","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/polish\/problems-with-priests-in-plural\/","title":{"rendered":"Problems with Priests (in plural)"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is it that I am reading about Polish priests wanting to marry and have families? This is the BBC article<\/a> in English, but I have seen this story reported in the Polish media as well.<\/p>\n

A controversial topic, no doubt about it.<\/p>\n

But since I happen to know two Polish priests (we met while working on a volunteer project in a far-away land) I thought I\u2019d get the scoop straight from the horse\u2019s mouth, so to speak.<\/p>\n

Both of my priestly friends are now back in Poland doing whatever it is that Catholic priests do. We\u2019ve always been able to have very frank conversations, even on subjects that could be considered uncomfortable, or even taboo.<\/p>\n

I forwarded the BBC article to both guys and waited to hear what they had to say about it.<\/p>\n

My conversation with priest number 1:<\/p>\n

A: So, what do you think?<\/em>
\n#1: The figure is too low.
\nA: Which figure?<\/em>
\n#1: The one that says \u201cmore than 12% even admitted they were presently living in stable relationships with women.\u201d
\nA: You think it\u2019s even higher?<\/em>
\n#1: I KNOW it\u2019s higher. Listen, priests are human, too. You can talk about celibacy all you want, but it\u2019s just not working.
\nA: So you mean there are no idealistic, true believing priests that stick to the rules?<\/em>
\n#1: They\u2019re rare, but they do exist. They\u2019re the exception, not the rule.
\nA: And what about you?<\/em>
\n#1: Are you going to write about it?
\nA: Yes.<\/em>
\n#1: Hmmm\u2026 You know, it\u2019s just a job, like any other. Some people are doctors, some are engineers, I\u2019m a priest. It\u2019s a career choice.
\nA: Are you happy with your career then?<\/em>
\n#1: It\u2019s going pretty well, nothing to complain.
\nA: So, are you in a relationship right now?<\/em>
\n#1: Let\u2019s just say that the 12% does not reflect what\u2019s going on among my fellow priests, OK?
\nA: OK, gotcha. Thanks.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

My conversation with priest number 2:<\/p>\n

#2: You still like to ask uncomfortable questions, I see?
\nA: As always.<\/em>
\n#2: Then instead of mulling over those numbers, there\u2019s an even more important question to be asked.
\nA: Is there a crisis brewing in the Polish priesthood?<\/em>
\n#2: Wrong question. What I want to know is why the wrong sort of people is allowed to enter seminaries? And why are they allowed to take vows and become full-fledged priests?
\nA: A national priest shortage maybe?<\/em>
\n#2: That\u2019s no excuse. When you get better quality of people into seminaries, you get better priests.
\nA: You mean \u201ctrue believers\u201d?<\/em>
\n#2: (exasperated sigh.)<\/em> Nobody says anything about true believers. But those who think of becoming priests do it for all the wrong reasons.
\nA: Then what would be the right reasons?<\/em>
\n#2: (another exasperated sigh.)<\/em> Listen, being a priest is a job. And a lot of hard work. And one of the requirements of this job is to be celibate. If you think it\u2019s a stupid requirement, then go join the navy instead. There\u2019s enough garbage in the priesthood as it is. And there are plenty of other jobs out there.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So, this is what my friendly priests had to say. I like and respect them both tremendously, regardless of their personal views. I\u2019m not a religious person myself, so this whole issue is really a non-issue to me.<\/p>\n

What is an issue to me is the plural form of the Polish word for \u201cpriest.\u201d
\nAs a singular noun, it\u2019s easy enough: ksi\u0105dz.<\/strong>
\nBut wait a sec. One ksi\u0105dz<\/strong>, but in plural – ksi\u0119\u017ca.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whoa! Where did that come from? \u201c\u0104<\/strong>\u201d became \u201c\u0119<\/strong>\u201d and \u201cdz<\/strong>\u201d turned into \u201c\u017c<\/strong>.\u201d
\nNow ask someone to quickly go through all the cases of \u201cksi\u0119\u017ca<\/strong>.\u201d Follow it with all the cases of \u201cksi\u0105\u017c\u0119<\/strong>\u201d (prince) and watch them squirm.<\/p>\n

So, jeden ksi\u0105dz<\/strong> (one priest), but in plural \u2013 ksi\u0119\u017ca<\/strong>. With some plural masculine nouns, number two – dwa<\/strong> morphs into dwaj<\/strong>.\u00a0 So, you need to say:\u00a0dwaj ksi\u0119\u017ca <\/strong>(two priests).<\/p>\n

And, jeden ksi\u0105\u017c\u0119<\/strong> (one prince), but in plural \u2013 ksi\u0105\u017c\u0119ta<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

See what I mean? There are greater problems than ksi\u0119\u017ca<\/strong> wanting to get married.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What is it that I am reading about Polish priests wanting to marry and have families? This is the BBC article in English, but I have seen this story reported in the Polish media as well. A controversial topic, no doubt about it. But since I happen to know two Polish priests (we met while…<\/p>\n

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