The (Catholic) Church Has Always Prospered When Celibacy Is Honored

The Wanderer | January 22, 2004 | Frank Morriss

[sitetest]

Dear sinkspur,

Thanks. The conversation is always a pleasure.


sitetest

[sinkspur]

Do you not think there tends to be a minimalist approach to the faith by many? It seems that so many of us just want to do the bare minum the Church asks of us.

Well, that's the challenge of following Christ, isn't it? We want to have one foot in the world, and one foot in the Church.

We are like St. Augustine, who said in his dissolute youth "Lord, make me chaste. Just not yet." We are called to give up all things (that is, not be attached to material things), but we like to hold on to some of our stuff (material things, prejudices, anger, guilt) just in case.

Being a follower of Christ is tough. What did Christ tell Peter after asking him to lead His Church:

"When you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go wherever you wanted to go. But, when you grow old, you will stretch out your hand and others will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."

Truly turn things over to Christ and there's no telling where you'll end up or what you'll end up doing.

[johnb2004]

AMEN.

[John Locke]

The fact is, celibacy never in the past was found to be the cause of the Church's lacking recruits to the priesthood.

Yes, but "celibacy" in the past did not mean chastity. I believe the only Christain sect that required a celibate to practice complete physical chastity was the Cathari. A Roman priest, by contrast, could pay the annual cullagium and then enjoy the embraces of his concubine or catamite as often as he pleased, while remaining officially celibate.

Of course, things got a little tougher after the Reformation ...

[saradippity]

Coould you provide some legitimate documentation on that,please? And,thankyou.