Vatican synod rules out married priests

Australian Associated Press (AAP) ^ | October 23, 2005 | Unattributed

[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.

[vladimir998]

Sinkspur,

You wrote: "Is it your contention that the Anglican Church has valid orders?"

No, it is a fact that Protestants do not have valid orders.

"It is a fact that all men who who have come into the Church under the Anglican dispensation have been "ordained" Catholic priests. That is, they have been "re-ordained" to supersede their previous ordinations as Anglicans."

Incorrect. They were ordained once. That's exactly how they themselves put it.

"The pope didn't say a word about the issue."

In words? No. In actions? Yes. Did the synod call for married priests? No.

"The re-emphasis on celibacy was decided by the bishops themselves, and the document came out under the Pope's signature."

So the pope's signature means nothing?

"Unlike John Paul II, at least Benedict XVI allowed the subject of married priests to be broached, and be discussed. It will likely be discussed again."

No, not really. Benedict allowed some bishops to spout off probably so the issue will die down.

"We should all pray for vocations, but the number of men in seminaries today will not be sufficient in number to replace those who are dying, retiring, or leaving. That is a fact."

So we should place another burden on priests? No. We in North America will have to import priests from overseas in the time being, but vocations are rising among the orthodox and continuing to decline among your ilk.

"Your snide little comment at the end indicates you don't really want to exchange thoughts about this; you'd rather sit in judgment."

Nope. I just see no reason to pretend that this is some how open to discussion in the Church when it isn't. Just admit the fact that you are 1) not Catholic, or 2) not orthodox, or 3) clueless.

[Conservative til I die]

If women decided to not participate in Church ministry, or stopped coming to Church, the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church would collapse.

Baloney. Your agenda is showing again.

[Conservative til I die]

Odd. Why would it be unacceptable for one group of priests when it appears to be acceptable for several others?

Tradition. In the Eastern Catholic Church, they've got a different tradition and it works for them. The Western Church has its own tradition and it works for us. For the rare Anglican and Lutheran convert priests, they come from their own tradition. In any case, there's no violation of doctrine.

[Conservative til I die]

Yeah, let's continue to disuade heterosexual men from becoming priest. Let's see who's left?

Funny. Celivbacy has not been a problem for the first 1950 years of Christendom. Ever think it's our vile, , materialistic, oversexed culture that is the problem instead? I mean, this is basic logic.

[Conservative til I die]

Ya think that part of the motivation here is to make sure that priesthood remains a gay club, with a significant pedophile subculture? Too many married hetros (w/kids) in the ranks may put a stop to that quickly. Then where would they find love?

Wow, you really hit the nail on the head. *rolls eyes* good grief.

[Conservative til I die]

pedophiles.

Jagoff.

[Conservative til I die]

It's true that I'm not Catholic,

Then keep your ignorant opinions to yourself.

[Conservative til I die]

As I understand it, the Eastern Orthodox church requires priests to be married because of this particular passage.

Not true. And interestingly enough, the Orthodox Church for the most part (I'm not clear if it's uniform) does *not* appoint married men to be bishops.

[Conservative til I die]

I'll have to look that up. I have a friend in vocations and nobody seems to be beating his door down. Please don't say anything about him not being a good priest. I don't know any bad ones

It's possible your friend in vocations is in a somewhat liberal (arch)diocese. These areas are the ones hemmhoraging members the most, becuase frankly, how can anyone be expected to have a fervor for something that is watered down? The conservaitve areas tend to do very well.

It's not that different than the electoral outcomes between RINOs and real conservative politicians.

[katykelly]

Apologies in advance if I'm changing the subject a little here, but does anyone remember circa 1972 when the "Pill" was becoming a big deal and the Pope at that time was all riled about it? Remember the headlines? "You no playa da game, you no maka da rules" (Mr. KK)</p>

[Conservative til I die]

Catholics are misers compared to the stewardship of most Protestant congregations.

Please do us a favor and make your way to the nearest Protestant congregation then. As a man of the clergy, you're doubly a detriment to the faith.

Reversing the celibacy discipline is N-O-T going to happen, not at least in your or my lifetime. Give it up, dude.

[Conservative til I die]

Catholics already approve of married clergy. Every survey taken in the last 30 years indicates that, overwhelmingly, Catholics would support married priests.

I assume you're talking about US Catholics. First, the US Church is not the end-all be-all of the Catholic Church. Neither is "The West" either.

Second, a majority of US Catholics also support a female clergy and deny the Real Presence of the Eucharist.

Third, the Church is not a democracy or a republic.

[Conservative til I die]

Why? Any parish that has a married deacon provides fertile ground for most Catholics to realize that it's not that much further to envision a married priest.

Except a deacon is not a priest. It's like saying having nuns provides fertile grounds for most Catholics to envision female clergy.

[Conservative til I die]

Protestants gave away an average of 57% more money than did Catholics ($1379 compared to $878).

And where does the money go? The Catholic Church is far more active in charitable works. I've never heard of a Baptist or other Protestant charity of any note.

[Conservative til I die]

So how is it handled for the wives and children of the married priests (see the reference to converts and Unitates above) already in the Roman Catholic Church? Why is it that this method could not be expanded

It theoretically *could* be expanded, but one of the real reasons we won't renounce celibacy in the Western Church is because it will be for the wrong reasons and will have the wrong effect. It will open the floodgates and will be another step towards liberalizing the Church. We've seen the damage done in just the last 40 years when liberalism crept into the Church.

[ovrtaxt]

My mistake. Still, the verse stands. How is that reconciled by the church? (Perhaps they take it as a prohibition on polygamy?)

[Conservative til I die]

I love how he cites what 69% of Americans (i.e., Catholic and non-Catholic) think on the subject. As if I give a damn what any non-Catholic has to say about our doctrines and disciplines.

[Conservative til I die]

My mistake. Still, the verse stands. How is that reconciled by the church? (Perhaps they take it as a prohibition on polygamy?)

I'm not a scholar or an expert, but I think what you say is a pretty good guess. Putting it back into the historical context of a fledgling Church living in a largely pagan world, and beginning to convert pagans, where sexual and marital morality were viewed differently.

[A CA Guy]

I'm sure they may get food money, but a living wage?

Are you aware that the nuns and priests may still not even be part of the Social Security plan in this country and are in mostly total poverty when they get too old to work?

I've lived in both NY and CA and there have been nothing but used cars being driven and very humble lives lived by my observations.

How much a year is the livable wage you heard they are paid?

I know some have some very expensive educations paid for to head colleges or to serve in special places.

[A CA Guy]

Hello, I'm sure the church has to consider and figure on these expenses when they take on these new priests.

Maybe the spouse has to sign something that says the church is NOT responsible for their support or child support.

I don't see this risk expanding because some court would IMO rule out any signed prior agreements over the interests of providing for the children.
Courts like to do that.