Faith, hope and chastity - Carolyn Butler

This is an exploration of the life and work of a selection of Catholic priests today. What are the struggles faced by priests, and how do they overcome them? How do they view their vocation in the modern world? The contributors speak openly and freely on issues of concern: celibacy and loneliness, homosexuality, social justice, spirituality, child abuse. Contributions include: Fr Timothy Radcliffe, Master of the Dominican Order, on the pain and loneliness of life as a monk; Cardinal Winning talks about his life and ministry, and reflects on the papacy of John Paul II; Fr Michael Seed on his extraordinary childhood and its effect on his work as a priest; Bishop Vincent Nichols on his upbringing in Liverpool and the ups and downs of a bishop's life; Fr Philip Inch, a young priest living alone in a new presbytery talks of celibacy and the need for relationships and Stuart Carney, a trainee Jesuit, tells of his decision to abandon a promising career in medicine.