Arguing With A Priest

If you were raised Catholic, then you were taught to respect the priest at your church. Back when I was a kid, the priest was someone that really was unapproachable. When I went to confession, I was always scared to death, even though I wasn't a bad kid. It was just that he was the priest, and he was holy, at least in my young eyes.

Working at Catholic schools for most of my career, there was always a priest in charge. In some schools, the priest was always present, visiting classrooms and getting to know the kids. In other schools, we barely saw the priest, except for Mass. 

I worked for a priest one year who was not involved much at all. He had a reputation of being mean and gruff. Many of the parents and parishioners were not fans of this priest. But he was the boss, and I had to listen to him. At the time, our school had very little kids. I only had 4 5th graders, and a field trip was coming up. We would be going to a play in the local theatre. My class was the only class invited to the trip. Because it was only 4 kids and the school was broke, the priest asked if I would drive the kids in my Honda Accord. I thought about this and wondered what would happen if I got in an accident. How would I fit all 4 kids in my car? I panicked and told him no. I told him that I did not want to be responsible for those kids while I was driving. He was so mad at me and accused me of disrespecting him and the school. I stood my ground and refused. 

We still went on the trip. Another school close by was able to come and pick us up on the way to the play. The priest and I eventually made up. He even told me that he thought I had guts. Not many people told him no.