‘The door is always open’: Celibacy for priests not unchangeable dogma, Pope Francis says

National Post ^ | 06/11/2014

[SeekAndFind]

ROME — Pope Francis says he believes that Roman Catholic priests should be celibate but the rule was not an unchangeable dogma and “the door is always open” to change.

Francis made similar comments when he was archbishop of Buenos Aires but his remarks to reporters on a plane returning from a Middle East trip were the first he has made since becoming pope.

“Celibacy is not a dogma,” he said Monday in answer to a question about whether the Catholic Church could some day allow priests to marry as they can in some other Christian Churches.

“It is a rule of life that I appreciate very much and I think it is a gift for the Church but since it is not a dogma, the door is always open,” he said.

The Church teaches that a priest should dedicate himself totally to his vocation, essentially taking the Church as his spouse, in order to help fulfill its mission.

However while priestly celibacy is a tradition going back around 1,000 years, it is not considered dogma, or an unchangeable piece of Church teaching.

[defconw]

Yes like the Eastern Rite? Hello!!!

[defconw]

The greater the good the harder the devil works. I believe your friend. They should never have let gays into the seminaries.

[defconw]

True it's the Ordinary’s call, just same as whether he wants celibate deacons or married deacons or no deacons.

[defconw]

Not all priest's take a vow of poverty. That is voluntary. Secular priests ( the ones that run parish's do not generally take it). Religious Order priests commonly do take a vow of poverty. They generally do not run a parish unless it is deemed necessary by the ordinary. There work oftern involves other ministries.

[defconw]

Well the media is stupid and Francis does not speak English. So the door’s wide open on what he said and in which language.

[Seraphicaviary]

Tsk tsk... That's NO way to; ahem; turn the other cheek...

Just my application of Aquinas' Just War Theory. Proportional response, meaning proportional to what is necessary to prevent further "assault".

[defconw]

Well played grasshopper, well played!

[defconw]

Interesting I have the last post..

Speaks volumes~

[Gay State Conservative]

Sex, sex, sex! Is that really all anyone cares about?

So that's all that marriage is to you.Assuming you're a guy your wife must be thrilled to be with you.I'm about as big a knuckledragger as you'll find among guys and marriage is much,*more* than just sex to me and has been since I was about 18.Before that age,maybe not.

[Elsie]

Help me out??

There is a similar thread going on at FR right now.

Perhaps I've been blending and/or merging ides in my replies.

[Elsie]

Why can't they all just mind their own business?

You funny!

[Elsie]

...the same flock of chirping birds show up here.

True; and the OTHER flock of squawking birds show up and claim it is ALL their territory.

[Elsie]

Proportional response, meaning proportional to what is necessary to prevent further "assault".

Yeah, and as soon as those you've CONQUERED out breed you; here they come at you again.

[Elsie]

Pat; I’d like to buy a vowel: an “A”.

[defconw]

I am a women, you assume and you know what that means.

[chesley]

OK. Thanks. :)