OPINIONSnThe Padre From Chicago by John C. Chalbergn”He canonizes himself a Saint in his own hfetime.”n—Samuel ButlernConfessions of a Parish Priest bynAndrew Greeley, New York: Simonn& Schuster; $18.95.nExhibitionism is a sin yet to benlegitimized in Father AndrewnGreeley’s ongoing excursion into softnporn (or those novels which he euphemisticallynchristens his “comedies ofngrace”). But Greeley, the exhibitionist,nis on full display in his venture intonautobiography (or this book which henwrongly labels “confessional”).nFather Greeley (or “Greels” to hisnteenaged, water-skiing, Arizoniannsidekicks) has done everything in thisnautobiography but kiss and tell. He isntoo much in love with himself to havenrisked the former—whether it be anwoman’s lips or a prelate’s ring. Andnthe latter? Father Greeley is too muchnconcerned with preserving the mystiquenof the Irish (-American) priest tonbe blurting any secrets out. Thennagain, there just might not be all thatnmuch to tell.nSecrets or no, there is littie doubtnthat Greels has carried on a lifelongnlove affair with at least himself We allndo, I suppose, but not many of usnwould inflict our most private passionsnunto others via the printed page; andndarn few would pursue their selfappointedntask of intellectual narcissismnquite so relentiessly. On one levelnGreeley has written a very candidnbook. The Greeley persona does comenblasting forth on every page. Burstingnfrom between these covers is one alwaysndriven, forever ambitious, overachievingnworkaholic. Seething be-nJohn C. Chalberg is professor ofnhistory at Normandale CommunitynCollege.ntween these covers is one persistentiynstubborn, often angry, occasionallynhurtful, and forever flawed humannbeing. And cuddling within these coversnis one inordinately passionate ordainedncelibate. It might well havenbeen tided “Greels on Wheels.”nOn another level, Greeley’s “confessions”nreveal littie and confess toneven less. Mistakes? None that he cannthink of—or will admit to — thatnwould require more than a “five OurnFather and five Hail Mary” penance.nRegrets? “Destined” for the priest­n, / ••nnnhood, Andy Greeley hasn’t lookednback since he made that decision innthe second grade. What if, heavennforbid, he should be dismissed fromnhis priestiy vocation? Father Greeley,nforever obedient to his vows, wouldnsimply refuse to leave. How else wouldnany good Catholic respond to a hierarchyn”hung up” on authority? How elsencould a simple (but never pious) parishnpriest, who also happens to be a peripateticn(and always righteous) nationalncelebrity, be expected to deal withnsuperiors who range from “mediocre”nat best to “psychopathic” at worst?nTo be fair, Greeley does offer annabbreviated litany of those “sins” ofnomission or commission for which hen- j^-‘ “^”^T^fc.n•’^,: -”/ttilnim/^’^/nVtfV -^*«5. J, Jn’*>”,’.-‘?’§”’• ‘//’.n**” – ‘ ‘ / t >n-‘.- ””it *n”^^^^ tjvn-‘^^ a ^nFEBRUARY 1987 /19n