Don't end celibacy for priests

Washington Times ^ | Tuesday, May 28, 2002 | Joel Mowbray

[Spar]

I did not say being a Greek Catholic or Greek Orthodox meant you were a swinger. It still is one up on Latin rite Catholics that Eastern Rite or Greek Catholics enjoy while being considered full Catholics too. Also I have read that priests in teh Latin rite can be married before they are priests like those that convert from Lutherans for instance but once Catholic they have to be married and celibate. I will look that up in teh Catholic Encyclopedia and I am not sure if I understood the point correctly. The Greek Catholic (nothing to do with Greek ethnicity) priest once married and a priest can have children. Divorce in some Eastern Catholic branches also allow divorce along most of the lines of Greek Orthodox.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Also I have read that priests in teh Latin rite can be married before they are priests like those that convert from Lutherans for instance but once Catholic they have to be married and celibate. I will look that up in teh Catholic Encyclopedia and I am not sure if I understood the point correctly.

You misunderstood. Incidentally, not all married Protestant clergy who convert to Catholicism and request ordination in the Latin Rite end up getting their request granted.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

I also don't believe this goofy story for a minute.

You should share your suspicion with the author: jdmowbra@erols.com

[Don Myers]

You know, I am not sure that celibacy is one of their problems right now.

[Antoninus]

Since it's relevant, let's let St. Paul have a say on this:

"But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord: how he may please God. But he that is with a wife is solicitous for the things of the world: how he may please his wife. And he is divided. And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord: that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world: how she may please her husband. And this I speak for your profit, not to cast a snare upon you, but for that which is decent and which may give you power to attend upon the Lord, without impediment."
1 Corinthians 7:8-9, 32-35

I agree.

Get rid of priestly celibacy? Bad idea.

Defrock priests who don't take their vows seriously? Great idea.

[Antoninus]

Would not ending celibacy for priests be akin to rewarding the offenders?

Yes.

[Irene Adler]

Anglican bishops have to be gay. Just kidding."

"Suppose thats better than be a child molester. Just kidding."

I thought it was funny, and I'm an Episcopalian.

[Irene Adler]

"I also don't believe this goofy story for a minute." "You should share your suspicion with the author: jdmowbra@erols.com"

I don't believe it, either, and I have no intentions of discussing it with its supposed author.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

That makes two non-believers. I'm sure Mowbray is crushed.

[DallasDeb]

Catholic priests have a dual devotion to God and parishioners — there simply isn't room in their lives for families of their own.

If priests could marry, there would be more of them to share the duties. Thing I can't figure out is, if a married Deacon's wife dies, the Deacon must then thereafter live a celibate life.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

If priests have room in their lives to go to race tracks, and Las Vegas, and prolonged sabbaticals, then they have time for families.

Some parishioners promote celibacy out of tradition and because it seems fitting to them to have a priest who devotes himself entirely to the parish. Jesus did not expect it from his disciples, and that is why it will eventually come to an end. Plus, we've now learned that the concept of celibacy is too often just that-----a concept.

[Spar]

That is even worse of a double standards.

[NYer]

I want to know where Cozzens gets his numbers?

He probably visited my diocese, here in Albany, NY. My pastor and associate pastor are both gay; the bishop is considered gay. The Sunday televised mass, from a local parish's day chapel, is usually presided over by a gay priest. Rare is the straight priest in this diocese.

In those dioceses run by homosexual bishops and/or cardinals, the seminaries welcome their own with open arms. Now, do the math. How many bishops and cardinals are gay? The answer to that question will be found in the diocesan seminaries.