Posted on 04/10/2005 8:33:55 AM PDT by sionnsar
FOUR in 10 Catholic priests in Scotland believe that they should be allowed to marry — and 23% of them say the church should relax its ban on contraception and the ordination of homosexual clergy.
Following the death of Pope John Paul II last weekend, a Sunday Times survey has revealed widespread support for a more liberal line to be taken by his successor.
The church’s position on celibacy gained the highest level of support for change. Asked if the next pope should allow priests to marry, 41% said he should.
In 2002, before he became a cardinal, Keith O’Brien, the leader of the Catholic church in Scotland, shocked traditionalists when he said that he “would have no problems with celibacy withering away”.
Many priests see no theological reason why they should not marry and have children. “It is only a church law and church law can be changed,” said Father Brian Lamb of St Patrick’s chapel in Shotts, Lanarkshire.
Father Dominic Quinn, of St Kevin’s chapel in Bargeddie, near Glasgow, said: “In Britain we have had some married Anglican clergy who have become priests and the church law of celibacy has not been applied to them, so it is not seen as a divine institution. The way the church has used this has changed throughout history.”
A change in the position on contraception, an issue that has done much to damage the credibility of the church during the reign of John Paul, was supported by 23% of the priests.
John Paul believed all contraception was “intrinsically evil” and that the use of condoms to help to prevent the spread of HIV was “morally illicit”.
Among the other findings of the survey, 20% of priests said they would support the ordination of women priests and 26% favoured allowing openly gay men to be priests — but only if they remain celibate.
Father Joe Mills, from St Mary’s chapel in Duntocher, said: “There could be an argument for women priests and, as for homosexuals, they make the same vows as heterosexual priests, so why not ordain them?” Sister Christine Schenk, of the US-based Catholic lobby group FutureChurch, which is pushing to make celibacy optional and to have women ordained as deacons, said the church was facing a shortage of priests. The worldwide Catholic population rose by 52% to 1.1 billion between 1973 and 2002, but the number of priests remained static at 405,000, she said.
“Our concern, and the concern of priests, was not that celibacy was not a good way of life and many were very happy, it was overwhelmingly about us not being able to keep having mass and the sacraments available to Catholic people if we don’t attract more priests.”
Jan Barlow, chief executive of Brook Advisory Centres, the sexual health charity for young people, said: “A relaxation of the Catholic church’s position on contraception would help more people to make informed choices about their sexual health, prevent unplanned pregnancies and protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections.”
Last month James Bell became the first married priest to be ordained in Scotland. A former Scottish Episcopal minister, he converted to Catholicism and subsequently became a priest. oToday the Church of Scotland publishes a report calling for a “pragmatic” response to tackle the growing Aids crisis around the world.
The report calls on all Christians to face up to the issue more directly. It says: “Unless reticence is rapidly replaced with pragmatic and forward-looking approaches, HIV will spread more extensively in many countries which, until now, have escaped with only minor epidemics.”
Additional reporting: Holly Marney, Rory Gallivan
Seems its not just the Scottish Episcopal clergy that's a bit restive these days...
(Just kidding, just kidding.) ;-)
It's a landslide.
Then these ARE NOT CATHOLIC. It means something to be Catholic, it doesn't mean our Faith should be watered down, degraded and well everyone use the title Catholic and do as they please...Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever..don't degrade the deaths of the Millons of Martyrs who died for the Catholic Faith throughout the beginning, of the Catholic Faith.
In 1864,the Blessed Mother Mary, told Melanie,one whom she appeared to..and this is an official vision of Mary, long approved by the Catholic Church, and quoted.." In 1864, Lucifer together with a large number of demons will be unloosed from hell,they will put an end to the Faith little by little,even in those dedicated to God,They will blind them in such a way,that unless they are blessed with a special grace,these people will take on the spirit of the angels of hell;several religious institutions will lose ALL faith and will lose many souls...." and she warned the people of what would become of the Cathoilc Faith..and this is part of a long explanation.....Yes, to be Catholic has a meaning and has a purpose and no one can just do or say as they please and remain a TRUE CATHOLIC>> God help us all.
I am not Catholic, but I appreciate the Pope's hard line on traditions. He has been the chief spokesman for conservative Christianity worldwide for the past 25 years. However, I fear that the Catholic church may have to allow priests to marry if it wants to continue to have sufficient priests. I would be against such a change if it violated something in the new Testament or a very early teaching of the Church fathers. But as I recall, it is a rule that originated around the year 1000, and was enacted for reasons that would no longer apply. They can do away with it without changing doctrine.
I'd like to see the demographic break down on that supposed "Poll". I would venture a guess that the older post Vatican II dissenters would be a large part of the "Yes" men.
The seminaries are full of JJPII inspired young men who seek to be married to the church! The goodness of this Pope is still yet to be realized, there is a quiet revolution going on out here in the hinterlands and the gates of Hell will not prevail!
I'd like to see the demographic break down on that supposed "Poll". I would venture a guess that the older post Vatican II dissenters would be a large part of the "Yes" men.
The seminaries are full of JJPII inspired young men who seek to be married to the church! The goodness of this Pope is still yet to be realized, there is a quiet revolution going on out here in the hinterlands and the gates of Hell will not prevail!
I am not Catholic, either. My brother is through marriage as is one of my daughters. I admired Pope John Paul II very much. I do feel, as you do, that priests should be permitted to marry if they so choose. I knew a wonderful priest years ago. He was a very loving, inspiring man. However, after years in the priesthood, he just could not remain because he wanted to marry and have a family. He would have loved to have been able to have remained a priest and been allowed to marry and have a family. The last I heard, he had married and had a family.
Father James Bell is a very generous soul in his 60s. He decided to convert, and under the provisions opened up by Pope John Paul II he felt he needed to offer himself for the Roman Catholic priesthood because their were so few priests in his diocese serving the Highlands and the Orkneys. He is a very dedicated and brave soul. I count ourselves blessed that he was willing to step forward and convert losing his status within the Anglican Communion for an uncertain future in the Roman Catholic Church. He had no guarantee that his application would be accepted but he stepped out of the boat onto the water and looked Jesus full in the face.
Seminaries are far from full.
The right seminaries are full.
How about if they remain celibate every other Tuesday? I mean, if we're going to start something, let's look and see where it's going. (And anywhere the Church of England is still lingering on, that should not be tough to do.)
That still leaves 60% that have a different opinion, as if this was a popular referendum. 40% need to look for other work.
Because it's public business?
Re: "If there is no dogma against priests marrying, and cost is the only reason not to allow them to marry, I don't see that as a good reason."
You did not read my post. Cost was only one and your opinion does not matter. There were other reasons with chapter and verse. Please read again.
Re: " If the number of priests is declining and Catholic churches are having to close their doors, then doesn't it make sense to allow priests to marry so that you will be able to open seminaries to more young men who are just as qualified to be good priests but who also want to marry and have families?"
You have focused on just one small part of may post. Please reread. When you have done so I will address the above but not until then. It is the more important part and I suspect there is a reason you have sailed right past it. I will not address the above because I want you to first address the salient part.
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