Synod Affirms Priestly Celibacy

Vivificat! - A Personal Catholic Blog of News, Commentary, Opinion, and Reflections ^ | 26 October 2005 | Teófilo

[Teófilo]

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Rev 2:7).

Folks, according to Religion News Service and Beliefnet:

As more than 250 bishops filed into St. Peter's Square for a Sunday Mass that concluded the first synod of Pope Benedict XVI's reign, there were few signs of the lively debate that shook up the assembly's launch.

After weeks of soul-searching that identified Catholicism's global priest shortage and the sacramental status of remarried Catholics as top concerns, the bishops came full circle, reaffirming traditional teaching, based on Christ's example, as the best answer to the challenges of modernity.

"The synodal work allowed us to deepen the salient aspects of this mystery, given to the church from the beginning," Benedict told the synod's bishops, who convened in Rome on Oct. 2 to merely advise Benedict, not set policy. "How can we not take up, once again, the invitation by the beloved Pope John Paul II to `start again from Christ'?"

At the start of the worldwide gathering, bishops had jockeyed to set the synod agenda and test the limits of their freshman pontiff. Issues often ducked during John Paul's 26-year reign took center stage as bishops pondered the possibility of introducing exemplary married men known as "viri probati" into the priesthood as a means of stemming the priest shortage. One bishop even challenged the theological validity of the priesthood's celibacy requirement.

At the Sunday Mass, Benedict offered an initial reaction to the synod while giving a clear reaffirmation of traditional church teaching.

Priestly celibacy is "a precious gift and the sign of the undivided love towards God," Benedict said, linking the practice of celibacy to the Eucharist, the sacrament of bread and wine that was the synod's official theme.

Read the entire piece here.

Commentary. Roma locuta est, causa finita est. Rome has spoken, end of story. The Holy Spirit is not leading the Church to move in this direction yet. Would it ever happen? The door is not closed but you know, to me, it doesn't matter, I'm not going to lose any sleep, and I am not going to agitate and push for my very private opinion, to wit, that Latin Rite priests should be allowed the chance to marry before ordination according to the Eastern Rite model.

What I think the Spirit is telling us is that the Latin Rite has a special mission in today's world and that candidates to the priesthood in this rite should be prepared to live a radical, countercultural life of selfless renunciation. We must see that this is the radical example the Spirit is demanding that Catholic priests give the world.

Wiseacres who care little about such things may decry the radical renunciation symbolized in a celibate life. They will point out how conterintuitive and unnatural that choice is. So be it. We are not called to live according to mere nature, but according to "graced" nature, according to "super" nature, a life animated by another Power and oriented to other goals. The world will never understand it but, as I progress more and more in the ways of the Lord, I care progressively less about the critics' opinions on the matter of mandatory priestly celibacy in the Latin Rite.

This has been the most open Synod in my memory. The issue was discussed openly, but the Synodal Fathers chose not to pursue this course. Pope Benedict reinforced their choice. I am at peace with that: Peter has spoken through Benedict, and the Apostles through the Bishops.

Let's go back to work on our own salvation and that of others.

[Teófilo]

Blunders. Typos. Mine.

[siunevada]

Mt 19: 11-12 Not all can accept this.

He answered, "Not all can accept [this] word, but only those to whom that is granted.

Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it."

[Salvation]

I am so glad this happened.

[gamarob1]

Well I can't accept it. I wasn't made to accept it, apparently. And for those who were, kudos to them. But, to force ALL priests into celibacy is a doctrine of demons:

They should just let them marry. It won't affect their ability to minister, and in fact, it may even have a positive impact on the sheer number of cases of sexual misconduct.

Besides, making babies is fun!

[siunevada]

It won't affect their ability to minister, and in fact, it may even have a positive impact on the sheer number of cases of sexual misconduct.

Or maybe it would just change the type of misconduct. I believe there was a thread posted within the last month on a married priest, Anglican convert, involved in a domestic violence case.

It's only a discipline not a doctrine.

Besides, making babies is fun!

Hey, if marriage and family wasn't a good thing no one would consider it a sacrifice to forgo them.

[Teófilo]

But, to force ALL priests into celibacy is a doctrine of demons.

Careful, here. You don't know that.

I do, however. And it isn't.

-Theo

[AlaninSA]

This is a duplicate thread of a previous one. But..."gamarob1," you're welcome to either leave the Church if you're a Catholic - or stay out of our business if you're not.

I'm sure there are things about each segment of Christianity that you or I would find offensive.

That's not important.

What is important is Christ's message...distilled down, it's "don't be a jerk."

[gamarob1]

or stay out of our business if you're not.

This isn't an open forum? Sorry, I didn't realize this was a Catholic website

What is important is Christ's message...distilled down, it's "don't be a jerk."

Ahh, so that's the summation of the entire Word of God. Now I see. It has nothing to do with Christ's redemption of fallen man. It isn't about checking doctrine of churches and making sure they're not hurting people. It is apparently about making sure that nothing on planet earth offends you, lest you consider the offender a jerk. Thanks for the clarification...

[AlaninSA]

No, it's an open forum. You clearly have an agenda that's larger than just commenting on the Catholic Church.

Perhaps Jack Chick could start a forum where you could hang out with like-minded individuals.

[gamarob1]

So defensive.

[AlaninSA]

No...the word you're looking for is "apologetic."

[A.A. Cunningham]

But, to force ALL priests into celibacy is a doctrine of demons:

No one is forced into celibacy. It is a choice made with free will. The formation process to become a Priest is a lengthy one giving the individual ample opportunity to discern if they are truly called to the discipline. There are 22 Churches sui juris in six separate rites: five Eastern and one Western that in union comprise the Catholic Church. Married men may be ordained in the five Eastern Rites and Bishops in the Eastern Rites are selected exclusively from celibates. The Western Rite, with the exception of the ordination of a relatively few married protestant ministers who have converted to Catholicism and been ordained under Pope John Paul IIs Pastoral Provision, adheres to the discipine of celibacy for the Priesthood. Your absolute statement is absurd and is indicative of your ignorance of the topic.

and in fact, it may even have a positive impact on the sheer number of cases of sexual misconduct.

Not a fact as evidenced by:

Sexual Abuse of Children by Protestant Ministers

[gamarob1]

The whole point is, then, I'm not allowed to be a priest if I'm married? What if I, a married man, want to become a priest? Can I? Or is it just reserved for the unmarried?

Your answer will say whether it is FORCED celibacy or not...

And yes, there are married ministers who have also committed sexual impropriety. I'm just saying that incidence might be lower among the married. I don't really know the stats, maybe someone else does. Nevertheless, it doesn't change the fact that it is a FORCED celibacy.

[A.A. Cunningham]

No one has a right to be ordained to the Priesthood in the Catholic Church. If you are married you have options in the Eastern Rites.

[gamarob1]

Then you answered my question. I cannot become a priest as a married man? Or, if I were a priest, I cannot decide later to be married? I'd have to leave the priesthood

That's a forced celibacy that never exists in Scripture of God's Word, and it's therefore unbiblical. Why do people follow this stuff?

[A.A. Cunningham]

I cannot become a priest as a married man?

If you are a married Catholic man in one of the five Eastern Rites you can seek ordination to the Priesthood. There's no guarantee that you will be ordained. If you are a married man in the Western Rite you can seek ordination to the Permanent Diaconite. There's no guarantee that you will be ordained.

Or, if I were a priest, I cannot decide later to be married? I'd have to leave the priesthood

In the Western Rite prior to ordination to the Priesthood you would have agreed that you were called to the discipline of celibacy. If you decided later on that instead of being a Priest you now wanted to get married then you would be laicized and removed from active ministry. Both of those would be choices that you made with free will.

In the Eastern Rites, if you were married prior to ordination you would have to stay married unless your wife died then you would have to adopt the discipline of celibacy. If you were single prior to ordination then you would have to stay single if you wanted to remain a Priest. If you aspired to be a Bishop then you would have to remain celibate. All of those choices would be made with your free will and agreed to prior to ordination. The Orthodox Church has the same policy regarding celibacy and their priests.

That's a forced celibacy that never exists in Scripture of God's Word, and it's therefore unbiblical.

Incorrect. The choice of freely giving up everything, including a wife, in order to serve God is indeed Scriptural and a sacrifice praised and encouraged by both Christ and St. Paul. No one held a gun to the Apostles head to follow Christ and no one holds a gun to the head of a man considering the Priesthood in the Catholic Church to follow Christ. That is a choice made with free will. You have a very poor comprehension of Scripture and the Priesthood in the Catholic Church. Incidentally, I highly doubt that you know anything about the Priesthood of Melchisedech, its mention in Scripture in both the Old and New Testaments, its relation to Jesus Christ or its relation to the Priesthood in the Catholic Church.

I suggest that in the future you actually study Scripture before you attempt to opine on it. The question you should be asking yourself is why, when celibacy is so highly praised in Scripture, that so few, especially those who claim to be "Bible believers" follow the discipline and the example set by Christ, the Apostles, St. Paul, et al.

"For there are eunuchs, who were born so from their mothers womb: and there are eunuchs, who were made so by men: and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take it." Matthew 19:12

"Then Peter answering, said to him: Behold we have left all things, and have followed thee: what therefore shall we have? And Jesus said to them: Amen I say to you, that you who have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of his majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting. And many that are first, shall be last: and the last shall be first." Matthew 19:27-30

"And Peter began to say unto him: Behold, we have left all things and have followed thee. Jesus answering said: Amen I say to you, there is no man who hath left house or brethren or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, Who shall not receive an hundred times as much, now in this time: houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions: and in the world to come life everlasting. But many that are first shall be last: and the last, first." Mark 10:28-31

"Then Peter said: Behold, we have left all things and have followed thee. Who said to them: Amen, I say to you, there is no man that hath left home or parents or brethren or wife or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Who shall not receive much more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting." Luke 18:28-30

"But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord: how he may please God. But he that is with a wife is solicitous for the things of the world: how he may please his wife. And he is divided. And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord: that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world: how she may please her husband. And this I speak for your profit, not to cast a snare upon you, but for that which is decent and which may give you power to attend upon the Lord, without impediment." 1 Corinthians 7:32-35

Why do people follow this stuff?

Why do people like you not know what Scripture actually says?

[gamarob1]

I can assure you, I know enough about the High Priesthood of Melchezedek. And according to the book of Hebrews, it has NOTHING to do with celibacy. JESUS is OUR High Priest according to the order of Melchezedek, and He's the only one who has that Priesthood. It has NOTHING to do with celibacy at all. The point of it was to explain to newly converted Jews that their old priesthood in the temple under the law was outdated, and the New Covenant had come in, where JESUS is the ONLY High Priest. Get it?

Furthermore, Peter didn't leave his wife permanently, because we see throughout the Gospels, that there were several women that came along. Do you really believe that he permanently abandoned her forever? And since he was clearly married, did that disqualify him from "service" to God? Hardly....

The RCC has created a false "priesthood" that is found nowhere in Scripture. In Scripture, ALL believers are called a holy priesthood, including you and me. Sorry if you decide to set up some Nicolaitans over yourself. Jesus said in Revelation, "I hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans..."

[Salvation]

Perhaps you are not aware of many Anglican and Lutheran ministers who were previously married and who have converted to the Catholic faith, brushed up on the Catholic theology and are fully accepted into the priesthood ranks of their dioceses. I think that our diocese has at least two such priests.

[gamarob1]

I am happy to hear that, and I thank you for making me aware of it. If there is existence of at least one or two, and they're widely accepted, then it is getting better

[Salvation]

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