PARISH PRIESTS SHOULD become more accountable by having to undergo

periodical reviews of their work, declared. a resolution by the National Conference of Priests.
In an effort to improve priests' development, annual reviews could be implemented with the help of lay people with management or personnel skills, or members of religious orders
Almost four out of five of priests at the NCP backed the resolution, which sought to "promote good pastoral practice, nurture personal development and, in complete confidence, deal with sources of disappointment and failure".
The move marks an acknowledgement by clergy that they are often "left to their own devices" and prone to stress and poor decision making while running the modern, busy parish.
Fr Tony Furlong, of the Cardiff archdiocese, who first voiced concern during the conference about clergy management, said: "We all hear about the number of colleagues who don't survive their first five years as a priest. It is surely right to have accountability of parish priests and curates, and such supervision would affirm our vocation."
Fr Michael Morton from the Shrewsbury diocese, who proposed the motion, said that as national chaplain to the Young Christian Workers he undergoes an annual review with YCW staff of goals and expectations, which he felt benefitted his work.
"I know clearly what my aims should be. In contrast, I have no such review as a parish priest, and sometimes have no idea what I should be doing. It is a strange duality," he said.
Earlier Fr Chris Benyon of Arundel and Brighton diocese had highlighted the enormous pressures which the modern priest faces, when he described knowing six priests who had recently taken time off due to stress