Press: Servant of all [MST]

Star Tribune - Servant of all: "He expresses disappointment over the Catholic Church's role in promoting civil and gay rights. He believes celibacy among priests should be optional. He is ardently opposed to the war in Iraq and leads parishioners in weekly protest marches on the sidewalk in front of his church.

At age 79, the Rev. John Brandes, pastor of St. Boniface Catholic Church in northeast Minneapolis, is hardly a retiring personality. And though he is nine years past the typical retirement age for priests, he is not yet ready for full-time R&R."

(Father John used to be my exasperating ultraliberal pastor when I lived in St. Paul. Now I say God bless him!)