The state of today's priesthood With "jobs" that range from missionary to administrator, canon lawyer to spiritual director, chaplain to theologian, the priests in this collection answer two key questions: why did they become a priest, and why are they still a priest today. Their candid answers reveal much both about themselves and about the general state of today's priesthood. Their answers also help lower the veil of mystery with which the vocation is viewed and make it more real and immediate. Why I Am a Priest-- --tackles some of today's tough problems, such as the shortage of priests, social justice, issues of leadership, the changing role of the laity --has such noteworthy contributors as Walter Burghardt, George Higgins, Frank McNulty, and Eugene La Verdiere --includes selections from "born" priests and those who came late to the calling This is interesting reading for-- o clergy and religious o seminarians o spiritual directors o vocation directors o high school guidance counselors o diocesan offices o and lay people curious about the priesthood