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Thank-you for the kind words. I merely mean to point out that some of the arguments against a celibate clergy advanced by the posted article don't seem to hold up in our experience. A celibate clergy is the greatest of blessings. Our monastics, the great guardians of Orthodoxy for the laity and the clergy are all celibate. My own spiritual father (father confessor) is a priest-monk, a celibate Archmandrite. I prefer it that way.

"and should reunion be brought about by the Holy Spirit prior to the Second Coming, in the churches currently in communion with Constantinople."

That would be about my timeline! :) But no reason not to have a cup of good sweet cafe and a piece of baklava together (like I'm doing right now)!

Dear Kolokotronis,

You're welcome.

Actually, in my own first post to this thread, I made similar comments against the arguments contained within the posted article.

"That would be about my timeline! :)"

I'm more hopeful than you are. ;-)

"But no reason not to have a cup of good sweet cafe and a piece of baklava together (like I'm doing right now)!"

That sounds good, but I'm not that big on dessert. If we're eating Greek, there is a chicken-lemon soup that I really, really love...

sitetest

Kolo, you didn't mention that Orthodox bishops cannot be married -- pretty much for the same reason Catholics insist on celibacy of their entire clergy. It is also a fact that in Orthodoxy, the bishops are drawn from the monastic ranks precisely because celibacy is valued more than marriage among clergy.

This is perfectly in line with the teachings of +Paul. The Orthodox Church, always applied oikonomia even in this instance -- for practical reasons lower clergy (caretakers of churches) who are really bishops' assistants, are allowed to marry prior to taking Holy Orders. Once ordained, should they become widowed, they can not marry as long as they are ordained priests.

Also, deacons can be married in the Church of the East and the West. I wish the Catholic Church would use some flexibility, as it does for priests who came from Protestant ministries who were already married. Such priests are allowed to remain married. Also the Eastern-rite Catholic priests are allowed to be married (I believe the bishops are not, but I am not sure). Flexibility would go a long way. It is not without a precedent, and it may help specific parishes.

You are right, this is not our issue to get involved in. I just wanted to clerify some of the potential misunderstandings, since Orthodoxy was brought up.

Yes, a celibate clergyman is preferable. But then who is without sin?