Posted on 10/22/2005 2:09:46 PM PDT by gpapa
A synod of Catholic bishops has clearly reaffirmed priestly celibacy and ruled out allowing clergy to marry as a solution to the crisis of vocations facing the church worldwide.
The working sessions of the three-week synod, the first of Pope Benedict XVI's papacy, closed with 50 propositions and a message to the world from the more than 250 bishops.
Overall, the synod's decisions have dashed the hopes of some liberal Catholics for movement on issues such as married priests, celibacy and the divorced faithful.
(Excerpt) Read more at smh.com.au ...
Will this have any effect on married priests already serving (converts from Anglican and Lutheran church and those within the Eastern Rite Uniate Churches) in the Roman Catholic church?
No.
Odd. Why would it be unacceptable for one group of priests when it appears to be acceptable for several others?
Yeah, let's continue to disuade heterosexual men from becoming priest. Let's see who's left?
Ya think that part of the motivation here is to make sure that priesthood remains a gay club, with a significant pedophile subculture? Too many married hetros (w/kids) in the ranks may put a stop to that quickly. Then where would they find love?
Damn, you figured it out. Benedict is going to be ticked now.
Yeah, let's continue to disuade heterosexual men from becoming priest. Let's see who's left?
Doesn't celibacy in the priesthood go back to the council of Trent? Sorry, been a long time since school. Seriously though, if the church doesn't allow priests to marry soon, we won't have anything left but gay priests. Now, which of the two have we always been taught is an abomination? I don't think it's marriage. Ask the priests themselves. (I've asked many of them) Some will tell you they have no desire to marry, but that allowing the possibility of marriage would be good for the priesthood. Other priests say they would like to be married, but their calling to the priesthood is stronger. Then there are the ones who have left the priesthood (with or without dispensation) so they could be united with a woman. In the early days of the church, even Popes were married. On a side note: just think of how organized and smoothly parish functions would run with a woman at the side of the pastor. (Other than nuns and secretaries) =)
Spanaway Lori,
You wrote: "Doesn't celibacy in the priesthood go back to the council of Trent?"
Nope. Celibacy in the priesthood started with Jesus. It was common in the early centuries (see for instance, A. Stickler, THE CASE FOR CLERICAL CELIBACY) It became a rule for ordination only in the tenth century for the entire western Church.
"Sorry, been a long time since school. Seriously though, if the church doesn't allow priests to marry soon, we won't have anything left but gay priests."
False. All of the strict, traditionalist orders that insist on celibacy are booming with vocations. FSSP, Legionaries, etc. literally can't build seminary housing fast enough for the number of applicants they get. And married priests are often the ones who support clerical celibacy the most. Look at google.com for articles about that written by Fr. Ray Ryland who is married.
"Now, which of the two have we always been taught is an abomination? I don't think it's marriage. Ask the priests themselves. (I've asked many of them) Some will tell you they have no desire to marry, but that allowing the possibility of marriage would be good for the priesthood."
You need to spend your time with better priests. Try asking some who are orthodox and committed. You'll get a different response.
"Other priests say they would like to be married, but their calling to the priesthood is stronger."
True enough.
"Then there are the ones who have left the priesthood (with or without dispensation) so they could be united with a woman. In the early days of the church, even Popes were married. On a side note: just think of how organized and smoothly parish functions would run with a woman at the side of the pastor. (Other than nuns and secretaries)"
It would be a disaster. It is bad enough already. If you put these ordained men in a position where their wives become a factor in Church politics and decision making it would be a nightmare. Dear God, as much as I love women, preserve us from the monstrous regiment of women in the Church!
Your reply is right on. And, speaking as a woman, I wholeheartedly join in your prayer!
Odd, isn't He the one who selected Peter, a married man? Sounds as if He ended it as well.
I am more interested in your motivation. So you like insulting Catholics is that it?
Jerk.
"Sounds as if He ended it as well"
You are absolutely correct! The following backs up your assertion, particularly verse 2.
1Ti 3:1This [is] a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
Kind of an extreme response to rbg81, looks alot like killing the messenger.
The pedophile problem within the ranks of the Catholic church is a product of their own doing, do you not agree?
Odd, isn't it? Married Protestants can be Catholic priests if they convert, but lifelong Catholic men who are married cannot be priests.
Makes no sense.
If women decided to not participate in Church ministry, or stopped coming to Church, the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church would collapse.
Essentially, the bishops said "Well, let's talk about the shortage of priests and the dilemma of divorced and remarried Catholics, but keep doing things the way we're doing them."
At least they got three weeks in Rome out of the deal.
I really have nothing against Catholics. Pedophile priests hiding behind their collar, however, is a disgrace. I suspect a lot of gay men have entered the priesthood for various reasons--some noble, some downright criminal.
Catholics of all stripes should demand that the Pope take real action toward cleaning up this situation. It's true that I'm not Catholic, but I think the Church would be better off if they changed the rules. IMHO, celebacy is one tradition that has outlived it's usefulness for the priesthood.
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