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Dear seamole,

???

"Who are you fighting for now, your own pride?"

If I were a more sensitive fellow, I might regard this as a violation of the (newly-reinforced) rules against personal attack.

I made an assertion - that the pope's words are an exhortation - an encouragement - to celibacy, not a systematic argument in its favor. You questioned my assertion, I responded with a bit more of an answer.

I'm not "fighting" for anyone or anything, merely elaborating on my previous comments.

Perhaps you are under the misimpression that I'm criticizing the pope for offering an exhortation rather than an argument. I'm not. I imagine that he gave what was appropriate for the time and place.

Perhaps you are under the misimpression that I'm saying this is an exhortation rather than an argument because I oppose the discipline of celibacy. I don't. Though it is a matter of discipline, not doctrine, I support the the discipline of priestly celibacy, and have actually made ARGUMENTS in its favor here at FR against those who prefer to undo the discipline. Ask sinkspur.

In any event, the words you cite would make a good beginning of an outline of an argument in favor of celibacy, but scarcely would it suffice as an argument itself.


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