But to be a bad priest--there are other ways of being damned less hurtful to the Church." "To be a bad priest ?" quoth I."Is it possible to be a bad priest ?" "It is not only possible, my son, but in these days it is very frequent.
Many men, Agostino, enter the Church out of motives of self-seeking.
Through such as these Rome has come to be spoken of as the Necropolis of the Living.

Others, Agostino--and these are men most worthy of pity--enter the Church because they are driven to it in youth by ill-advised parents.

I would not have you one of these, my son." I stared at him, my amazement ever growing.

"Do you...

do you think I am in danger of it ?" I asked.
"That is a question you must answer for yourself.