JUDY VALENTE (to Father Dominic Grassi): What has this neighborhood meant to you?
Father DOMINIC GRASSI: It's really become home.
VALENTE: Father Dominic Grassi grew up only a couple of miles from St. Josaphat Church on Chicago's North Side, where he has been the pastor for 15 years.
JULIE GRAMAILA (Parishioner): His homilies focus on what it's like to live in this world as a Catholic, instead of talking about some biblical story. He's just a wonderful priest who gives great sermons.
VALENTE: If Dominic Grassi were in the business world, he's be at the height of his career. He's doing what he says he always wanted to do -- serving as the pastor of a big-city church. But after 29 years as a priest, he's finding it increasingly painful to represent his church.
Father GRASSI: I love the Church, and I love the people of God. When people are hurting, I'm hurting. When the Church is hurting, I'm hurting. I'm down because I don't want to be angry, I want to be loyal. The second largest denomination in the country is fallen-away Catholics. We're losing people. We're losing them in my own family. I hate to see that.
VALENTE: The problem right now -- the pedophile scandals and the Church's handling of them.
Father GRASSI: I feel great anger at the cover-up that's occurred. The bishops who think they're above the law. They have to admit they were wrong and take the consequences of being wrong.
VALENTE: At services on Holy Thursday, Grassi spoke from the pulpit about the crisis.Father GRASSI (speaking to parishioners during sermon): These are difficult days for us. I don't know about you, but some of us just wish it would go away. But it can't and it won't. You will not and cannot invite us into your homes, your hearts, and your souls unless you trust us. And it has to be earned.
I didn't realize how difficult it would be. I was sick all day Friday, physically and mentally.
SCOTT ARKENBERG (Parishioner): People were meeting behind a pillar or at the back of the church, giving him support, crying, teary-eyed, saying we love you, we care about you.
VALENTE: The pain of the pedophile scandals strikes the Church at a time when the priesthood is already in crisis. Too few priests, too much work. Grassi says priests his age have lost much of their idealism.
Father GRASSI: My generation, now we're in our 50s. We should be absolutely in our prime now. This is the point where we should really be making a difference. You get together with priests and talk. Rather than saying, "O.K., what are we going to do? What are we going to do to be creative?" -- it's "How am I going to make it to retirement?"
VALENTE: In his parish, Grassi is not only popular, he's more than a little colorful.
Father GRASSI: I had preached at the Sunday mass. I was rushing home for Sunday pasta with the family. There was a car in front of me, going very slow. I honked; they wouldn't let me around them. Finally I went around him and give him what we call the universal sign of displeasure. And I looked and it was a couple that had been at mass. I tried to make it look like a wave, but it didn't work.
VALENTE: Next to the church, a street named in Grassi's honor.Father GRASSI: The parish council did it for my 25th anniversary. This whole block is my block. Only good things happen on this block.
VALENTE: In the parish where Grassi grew up, the priests were role models. Three of his brothers went into the seminary, though only Grassi stayed to be ordained. He has never doubted his calling.
Father GRASSI: If all of a sudden I woke up tomorrow and I wasn't a priest, I wouldn't be Dom Grassi. I'd have to create something. I will always be a priest.
VALENTE: But he is a priest who is blunt in his opinions about Church leadership and his differences with it.
Father GRASSI: I've never used the phrase "being loyal to the pope." I'm loyal to the Church.
Ms. GRAMAILA: My son Brendan is four, my daughter Brigid is seven. I have to let them know in the world they have to take care of themselves. If they feel funny about something, they should never feel ashamed. They should always come and talk to their parents.
VALENTE: On this particular Sunday, Grassi said two masses, officiated at a baptism and a wedding, and had meetings with parishioners.
(speaking to parishioners from pulpit): The box rips right open and flour flies into the air, into the ceiling fan, and for about two minutes it was like winter in Vermont in that kitchen.
Father GRASSI: You know how it's going to start? It's not going to start from the top down. It's going to start from the bottom up. And you know, there's not a single cardinal who's going to stop that.
