Posted on 09/22/2005 6:06:19 PM PDT by BIRDS
Interesting choice.
Interesting, indeed.
Oh, if only they would!
Actually... the Vatican itself has proclaimed that "Celibacy is not essential to the priesthood", and the ancient church had married priests. That's why Anglican & other married priests who convert, are allowed to become Catholic priests and keep their wives. That's also why the Eastern Rite Catholics (found mainly in the Middle East and some Slavic countries) are still allowed to ordain married priests; those churches are former Orthodox who decided to re-affiliate with Rome and as part of the terms of reunion, were permitted to retain their Orthodox custom of married priests.
The religious concept and scriptural basis of chastity is, for the Priesthood, that the Priest represents to the flock, the faithful, the Church, what Jesus represents to the Church. I suppose if you conclude that Jesus Christ was or 'should have been' married, then your suggestion would make sense.
The Apostle Paul wrote, that celibacy for a servant of God was preferable, but not absolutely mandatory. He admitted that some people who have a strong desire to serve God, just can't handle a sexless life. (Me!)
I don't particularly follow whereby sexual activity is necessary for holiness...which is inherent to the idea of suggesting that Priests should be married.
I don't think that's the reason for the push for married priests, 'cause I don't think anybody thinks that. I think that many people believe that the long term solution to cleaining out the priesthood of perverts, is to start ordaining the many wonderful married deacons out there (my Mom, who is Catholic, raves about them and their anointed preaching).
IN DEFENSE of the Catholic position, however -- it has been pointed out that the Anglicans have always allowed married priests, yet they are even more overrun with homosexuals than the Catholics. So married priests, by themselves, are not a panacea. But allowing married priests in the Catholic church might, just might, help break the homosexual stranglehold that is said to exist in some seminaries. One Catholic priest who posts at FR, once opined that the ordination of married priests is precisely what the homosexuals fear most.
As a non-Catholic it isn't really my direct concern, (though I've considered converting), but I'd hate to see the world's oldest church ruined by the sodomites. If -- and I don't presume to know this -- IF alllowing married priests is the only way to get rid of the homosexuals, then I pray they go for it.
Yes, I do believe most of us feel that way -- I'd prefer to see the Vatican take those additional steps, if not encourage, at least, non-public interactive positions until retirement for homosexuals currently in the Priesthood (where they should not be, is my point, which most of us agree with).
Well, I have two small sons, so I'd need to see a rather stronger stance than simply "encouragement" before I trust my family to them. Even if the pervs are "celibate", they still spread an unhealthy spirit around that I don't want my kids exposed to. So I'm hoping Herr Ratzinger to do a full scale purge.
in the Priesthood (where they should not be, is my point, which most of us agree with).
Unfortunately, our local archbishop, Roger Mahoney, does not agree. But then again, he's PC on a lot of issues.
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