Theology On Tap

If you find yourself in Hagerstown, Maryland and you are looking to learn about God, try "The Corner Pub".

The rules at "The Corner Pub" are pretty lax - enjoy a beer, talk Catholicism and try to "Stump the Priest."
About 25 Catholics gathered at the Hagerstown bar for a Theology on Tap discussion, a group started recently by members of St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church.

The topic Monday? "Stump the Priest," who in this case was the Rev. Dick Murphy, pastor at St. Ann's in Hagerstown.

Dawn Sirface, who helped start the local version of the national Theology on Tap program several months ago with Julie Wilberding, briefly outlined the forum's rules to kick off the discussion. Those rules included no talking over one another and respecting each other's views.

Shortly after quips about the length of homilies and what priests do the other days of the week besides Sundays, the discussion evolved into serious questions on a variety of topics, including the shortage of priests, the future of the Catholic Church and the church's view of suicide.

One woman said a teenager had asked her if all sins were forgivable, saying that he was struggling with a friend's suicide. She asked Murphy what the Catholic position was on suicide.
Murphy said the church's view is that suicide is an unjust taking of a human life, however, it's often not a decision made freely, but one that results from depression - a sickness.

Murphy also responded to a question about the average age of priests in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, which he said was about 60. In about 10 years, about half of the archdiocese's priests will 70 or older, he said.

That led to a discussion about pastoral life directors and the chances of a parish receiving one as the number of priests dwindles. Pastoral life directors are members of the laity charged with running parishes that don't have priests. Members of the clergy are typically sent to such parishes for Mass and to perform sacramental rites. By the end of forum, which lasted about an hour and a half, Murphy responded to all questions asked and had not been stumped.

The local Theology on Tap group, open to people of all ages, is modeled after other Theology on Tap discussions that are held nationwide. Nationally, the groups are geared toward younger Catholics, but Sirface said before the discussion that she and Wilberding decided to open the local program to anyone.

See you at the Pub?