Jealousy

 J. P. Gallaher's "The Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican" is a fun and easy read.  It is an introduction to the undercover activities of the rescues of anyone who needed help, whether a Jew, an Allie soldier, and even some Nazis and fascists, by a Catholic priest.  Hugh O'Flaherty's exploits were extraordinary.  The Nazi's tried to capture him but never succeeded.  He saved too many to count.

For O'Flaherty's work, he was awarded the highest honours, including a CBE (UK), the Congressional Medal (US), and was the first Irishman named Notary of the Holy Office.  What is unfortunate, is the jealously of other clerics towards him.  

"He was unlucky enough to become a legend in his own lifetime and this in itself, combined with the traditional chauvinism of Vatican officialdom, clouded his last years.  Now a few of his colleagues and superiors (with the outstanding exception of the redoubtable Cardinal Ottaviani who stood staunchly by him to the end) were bitterly and publicly jealous of his fame--or notoriety, as they would describe it.  They looked upon him as an adventurer, a mountebank, or as one American churchman put it, 'A jumped-up Irish peasant!'"

The novelist, Father Andrew Greeley, who also suffered from criticism from fellow clerics, would call them the "murmerantes."  Why do priests do that?  Those that should know better; that should set an example of charitable rejoicing in a fellow priest's success!  Jealousy, jealousy, jealousy!