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 ...
I can respect this well stated opinion! It would be fine with me if the rules were changed and priests were allowed to marry. However there are good reasons for priestly celibacy too. Celibacy does not equal pedophilia or homosexuality. If celibacy is still the requirement then they are going to have to be very very particular and watchful in the screening process. Which is why there was an article about a week ago that talked about how the Vatican said there would be no homosexuals allowed in the priesthood. If I am not mistaken previously liberal seminaries were admitting celibate homosexuals to the seminaries. Now NO homosexual are admitted. Something like that (I am not quite sure.)
If I am not mistaken previously liberal seminaries were admitting celibate homosexuals to the seminaries. Now NO homosexual are admitted. Something like that (I am not quite sure.)
I wouldn't trust these liberal seminaries to follow even the Pope's dictates on their own. Many will probably have to be put under new management to make sure strict standards are actually enforced.
A few months ago I saw an TV interview with a Catholic seminary novice who had dropped out. According the him, the primary reason was due to harrassment because he wasn't gay (like the other novices). Don't know if that's true or just sour grapes, but stories like that should be fully investigated by Rome.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.