I know well and have known many priests during my earthly span and I hope to be around long enough to get to know even more.
And so, over the years, I have had many conversations, discussions, and even friendly arguments with priests, and most of them are normal guys. They have opinions and many of them even have short tempers, not unlike me. Talking to them about various subjects is like talking to most other men. So it always surprises me when I hear it. You know what I am talking about.
The Priest Voice.
The priest voice is that cloying sing-songy version of the Mr. Rogers voice which is often heard at the back of the Church or on the front steps as the priest greets parishioners as they are leaving.
February 7, 2011 at 1:28 pm
It is indeed a terrifying phenomenon. There is a cardinal from the northeast who is notorious for it. It's not quite English; it's some dialect of it.
February 7, 2011 at 1:59 pm
Hey! Don't be hatin' on Mr Rogers — he didn't talk like that either, not even to four year olds.
February 7, 2011 at 3:01 pm
The late Cardinal Hickey used to talk like that. It always made me sleepy. Today I find myself avoiding priests who do that horrible girly sing song voice.
February 8, 2011 at 5:49 am
"Priest voice?" It's called the "gay accent." Like it or not folks, the Catholic priesthood remains a disproportionately gay profession.
February 9, 2011 at 2:51 pm
Ludovico is correct. As long as young men in the pew hear that voice and see the behavior that goes with it they are not going to want to be priests.