Of course it is a requirement- it is a requirement for anyone who is not an Episcopalian or Lutheran clergyman. That means for 99 point something percent of men considering the priesthood it is a requirement.
If, as notwithstanding suggests, half the parishes are closed, and catholics are forced to drive miles to remote parishes, the faithful will have something to say about it, you can be sure.
I think it would be a rather healthy consequence if it comes to that. Furthermore the 'faithful'- I assume you are referring to the laity- are not owed some specific amount of access to the sacraments. They are available as possible. Our failure as a nation to produce priests- should not require the Universal Church- including many nations where there is no vocations crisis to alter the structure of the priesthood.
Again, celibacy is not integral to the priesthood. If it were, we'd send the Episcopalian converts packing tomorrow.
No, it's not integral. But would you not agree that it is preferable?
And if the vocation crisis is phony, why are we welcoming these men into the Catholic Church and allowing them to practice?
Because even if there were no vocations crisis it could be licit to admit these men. However, you are making a mountain out of a molehill- how many of these married men are becoming priests? Hardly any at all.
I am not denying that there is a shortage of vocations- there is. What I am saying is there is a true path to healing this problem that is not being taken- instead we talk about ways in which we can patch up the situation. However if the Church does truly renew itself it doesn't matter how many patches we come up with- they will be useless .
That was supposed to say, 'If the Church doesn't truly renew itself...
Oh, I see.
So you'd be happy attending Mass once a month, with a communion service on the other three Sundays?
Our failure as a nation to produce priests- should not require the Universal Church- including many nations where there is no vocations crisis to alter the structure of the priesthood.
There are few nations where vocations are plentiful. And celibacy is not integral to the structure of the priesthood. Period.
What I am saying is there is a true path to healing this problem that is not being taken- instead we talk about ways in which we can patch up the situation/
And what is that path? Look, it's not skin off my nose. I tried the seminary for several years, and celibacy is not for me. But I would think the Church would want to be able to select the best men available for the ministry. Jesus called married men to be his apostles and disciples. He can do so again.