Dear Romulus,
Yes, I believed I mentioned that the 1961 document existed.
I was merely noting that this wasn't part of Canon Law, and that the document has been roundly ignored for some decades without drawing any rebuke of any bishop, as far as I know, from the Holy Father.
One might question the seriousness of a rule promulgated nearly 45 years ago, and never enforced.
I'm unaware of Pope Paul's encyclical. Can you post the relevant section? I'd appreciate it.
Thanks,
sitetest
II. PRIESTLY FORMATION
Unsuitable Candidates
64. Those who are discovered to be unfit for physical, psychological or moral reasons should be quickly removed from the path to the priesthood. Let educators appreciate that this is one of their very grave duties. They must neither indulge in false hopes and dangerous illusions nor permit the candidate to nourish these hopes in any way, with resultant damage to himself or to the Church. The life of the celibate priest, which engages the whole man so totally and so delicately, excludes in fact those of insufficient physical, psychic and moral qualifications. Nor should anyone pretend that grace supplies for the defects of nature in such a man.
65. After the capability of a man has been ascertained and he has been admitted to the course of studies leading to the goal of the priesthood, care should be taken for the progressive development of a mature personality through physical, intellectual and moral education directed toward the control and personal dominion of his temperament, sentiments and passions.
What of those rules that are 2000+ years old -one may also question the seriousness of any rule never enforced (sounds like the spirit of Vatican II) -is the Church required to enforce something to maintain it as legitimate requirement/teaching?
In my opinion, seriousness embodies legitimacy based in absolute truth... Effective enforcement of a rule is another matter all together and can not be used to moral relatively ascertain a rule to be non-serious etcetera.
e.g. The rule against adultery is no less serious if all are doing it or the Church can not enforce it...