@joe_pescespada's important observation here leads me to make this thread.

Another priest has recently committed suicide. I'd like to say a few words about that. https://twitter.com/joe_pescespada/status/1338929162388709377

[I am not trying to ignore the reality of suicide by women or by men who are not priests, I'm speaking to the world I know and live in. I am *not* making comments on the specific priests I know or know of who have died by suicide.]

"How could a priest commit suicide?!"

Of course people are shocked. They should be. It's shocking. It's shocking when anyone dies this way, and tragic. Consider that priests are human beings. Consider that ordination doesn't take away (or prevent) suffering or mental illness.

Consider that even great personal holiness does not eliminate these from our humanity. There are some things you can't pray away in this valley of tears.

Priests are men. We have against us factors that men usually do. We are also spiritual fathers and leaders.

We are the ones others come to with their problems. And we want to be. We want to help, usually. We can't always. We often don't see the results we would like. We experience a lot of resistance and failure.

We manage a lot, move a lot, and have to be on guard a lot.

"Why didn't he ask for help?"

Think of the climate of the Church regarding her priests right now. What fears might a priest have in asking for help? His bishop may think he's a liability if he shows weakness.

Think of what it means for a priest to ask for time off or even just to seek counseling. Suspicion. Doubt about his fitness.

If a priest is removed from ministry it's a total life change. You have to move out, dress differently, can't even attend Mass like a normal person.

There are a lot of voices telling him to just "keep going" with less and less support. If he takes his vacation time, complaints. If he takes his day off, complaints. Things like eating healthily, exercising, sleeping right--the pressure to over-work is strong.

There are fewer and fewer priests, so spending time with other priests for support is hard. There's also the internal pressures (e.g., guilt, perfectionism, identifying ones personal worth with "success" in ministry).

It's a hard time for the Church--all of us. Priests aren't exempt.

We have fears about being moved at a bad time, financial collapse, people leaving the Church, being falsely accused, and many other things. We're human. We get disillusioned, tired, depressed. Sometimes fatally.

Catholics should take the lead in normalizing and de-stigmatizing seeking spiritual, emotional, and psychological care, including for priests. For all of us. It's normal. It's healthy.