The picture caption read: PRIESTS IN SHORTS. The photograph showed two Episcopal clergymen in Northfield, Minn. last week for the national convention of Episcopal Young Churchmenstanding about coolly in Bermuda shorts. The picture pulled a flurry of mail from: 1) Episcopalians who objected to men of the cloth baring their knees; 2) more Roman Catholics who resented the application of the title "priests" to Protestants.
The priest question touched on an old issue. Episcopalians consider themselves Catholic, believing that their church as much as Rome is the true spiritual heir of St. Peter. To stress this point, some Episcopalians prefer not to...