1966. San Antonio's Archbishop Lucey is summoning Mr. Philip J. Sheridan ...

... to interview him about the activities of one Father Roy Rihn, future leader of an insurrection by sixty - six priests against the archbishop -- making written accusations against him to Pope Paul VI.

One of the priests? A certain Father James Cashin! :)

30 priests would subsequently quit the priesthood.

Father Cashin most likely would have been among the 36 that didn't! :)


"Upon arriving, Father Carlos [Quintana] admitted me to the office of His Excellency, the Archbishop.

"In his office there were present the following Archdiocesan Consultants: Msgr. Leroy Manning, Msgr. James Lockwood, Msgr. Aloysius Leopold and Msgr. Henry Herbst.

"Also present were Father Carlos Quintana and the Archbishop's Secretary, Father Bernard Popp.

"The Archbishop himself was the one who conducted the Interview.

"Some of his questions directed to me were the following:

"Question. Mr. Sheridan, are you a member of St. Pius X Parish?

"Answer. Yes..."

Then, finally!

"Question. What is your opinion of your Pastor?

"Answer: Your Grace, Father Rihn is the darling of the Protestant Community. He impresses me as being more Protestant than Catholic....

"The Archbishop was extremely courteous to me; one would not have to be a rocket scientist to comprehend that Father Rihn had incurred the disfavor of the Archbishop.

"A few months later Father Rihn was transferred from St. Pius.

"1968: The REVOLUTION. Sixty - six priests in the Archdiocese of San Antonio, led by Father Rihn, signed an eight - page 2000 word letter to the Holy Father, Pope Paul VI, asking the Vatican to either retire Archbishop Lucey or ask for his resignation.

"Further, the priests said they wanted a voice in the affairs of the local Church...

"Of the sixty - six priests, 52 were Diocesan and 14 Religious.

"This act of defiance left a permanent scar on the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

"Unfortunately, a very large number (over 30) of the signers left the priesthood..."

Good people, are we so naive as to think our current Archbishop doesn't know all this?

You bet he does!

Because it can happen to him, too!