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Dear sinkspur,

"If the Church decides that celibacy is more important than the Celebration of the Eucharist in every parish every Sunday (because that's what it boils down to), then we'll have laymen assuming more and more of the leadership of parish communities."

I believe that this argument is essentially, "there would be more priests if married men could be priests."

Perhaps in the short term there might be. I imagine that many married deacons would enter into the priesthood, giving a significant boost in numbers.

But in the long term, I think we'd lose as many (or more) vocations as we gained.

The experience of the Protestant churches is instructive. Many of these denominations are hard-pressed to find sufficient numbers with "the call," as well. Yet, they may marry.

Part of the difficulty is that the priesthood is not (and will not become) a particularly remunerative vocation. For folks who embrace celibacy, this isn't the greatest concern. But for folks who anticipate a wife and family, and who understand the moral obligation to provide adequate material support thereto, this is a very big concern.

sitetest

The experience of the Protestant churches is instructive. Many of these denominations are hard-pressed to find sufficient numbers with "the call," as well. Yet, they may marry.

The Protestant experience definitely shows that there is a concern in all denominations with materially supporting a minister and his family. There are no shortages of men who would serve a Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, for instance; there are fewer men willing to accept a call to a rural church with 600 people in attendance at Sunday service.

I don't know what the answer is. I don't think the ministry, generally, is viewed as a satisfying life in America today, regardless of the denomination. Perhaps its due to the better-educated laity, who often can do a better job of teaching than the priest or minister can, and these people intimidate men who thought they were entering a life where their congregations would defer to them.

That's why I think celibacy at least ought to be discussed. Either it will emerge from such discussions stronger, and Catholics will embrace it more confidently, or there will be changes made.

But, this present dissatisfaction of many older priests, who are being worked to death and must forego any kind of retirement because there simply is no other alternative, will only get worse before it gets better.