Our pastor is very overworked and is in poor health. Two foreign priests were recently assigned as assistants. Evidently they are to be here until their visas run out. They are very nice young men, and God bless them for trying, but it is extremely difficult to understand their speaking. Of course we can follow along in liturgical books, but I have yet to understand more than a few words of a homily, have yet to try confession with them. Shouldn't there be minimal English skills for serving in this country, and aren't they needed in their own country anyway?

Michael--

Priests often come to the U.S. from other countries to study, and sometimes they actually are needed more in our country (with its current priest shortage) than in their own (some of which have many vocations).

As to the immediate problem, perhaps a parishioner experienced in teaching might approach the priests and offer to help them perfect their spoken English. A teacher need not even have a background in English instruction. Someone with a background in theater could be just as helpful in teaching English enunciation as someone who teaches English as a second language to foreign-born visitors.

The larger point here is that when there is a problem Christians should do their best to seek constructive solutions to their complaints.

Michelle Arnold
Catholic Answers

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