Posted on 10/07/2005 2:27:14 PM PDT by NYer
- H. Em. Card. Nasrallah Pierre SFEIR, Patriarch of Antiochia of the Maronites, Head of the Synod of the Maronite Church (LEBANON)
1. I refer to the relatio ante disceptationem, chapter a2 entitled the tested men, where there is a question about the celibacy of Catholic priests. The text says: “To overcome the lack of priests, some, guided by the principle of salus animarum suprema lex, advance the request for the ordination of married faithful, of proven faith and virtue”, rather than leaving the parishes without any priestly service.
1. There is a problem there that nobody ignores. We should reflect on it seriously. In the Maronite Church, we allow married priests. Half of our diocesan priests are married. However, we must admit that the marriage of priests, even if resolving one problem, also creates other serious problems. A married priest has the duty of taking care of his wife and children, to ensure their education, to secure for them a certain social standing. The priesthood was also a means of social promotion in Lebanon.
Another problem arises for a married priest, that of not having misunderstandings with the parishioners. Despite this, it can be the case that the Bishop cannot transfer him, due to the impossibility of his family to move with him. Despite all this, these married priests have preserved the faith of the people with whom they have shared a hard life. Without them, this faith would have disappeared.
3. On the other hand, Celibacy is the most precious gem in the treasure of the Catholic Church. But how to maintain it in an eroticized environment: Newspapers, Internet, posters, everything displayed without shame, wounding the virtue of chastity. It is obvious that once ordained, a priest can no longer marry. To send priests, either to a country in need of them, or to a country having many of them, is not an ideal solution, if we take into consideration traditions, habits and mentalities.
The problem has been stated. One must pray to the Holy Spirit that he may suggest to his Church the means to find an adequate solution.
The apostles were married.
Numerous Early Church popes and bishops were married.
Eastern Catholic churches are filled with married priests.
Anyone claiming that married priests are less suited for the priesthood, or in some way poor quality or non-priests is denying the history of the Catholic church, and the practices of the church as a whole.
What is it specifically that makes an unmarried man so worrthy in the Latin rite, but a married man just as fit in the Easten rite within the same church body (The Roman Catholic Church)?
This is not an argument of scripture, religion, or doctrine, but one of history and tradition.
Your statement is false. There are numerous Catholic married priests they simply are not in Latin rite churches in western countries.
That is precisly why there is a debate about it at the Synod, there are numerous bishops there from countries which allow married priests, and they are Catholic and there are others from areas which do not allow it and wonder why.
If it was as open as shut as some would like to beleive there would not be a signifigant amount of time spent on it.
I doubt you will see serious discussion time for gay priests, because that is an open and shut issue and not worth the time discussing, however the history of married clergy in the early church, and the presence of married clergy in many parts of the modern church makes the discussion quite complex and worth discussion.
To revise your comment SOME catholic priests are commanded to be celibate, other are not, and between both many wonder why.
Yet again, the watchword in these types of discussions is "Context." Paul was writing to the first generation (and early second generation) of the Church. All but the youngest of his hearers were born and raised as pagans. Most of them were likely *already* married when they came into the Church. The presbyterate had to be recruited from SOME group of people in Pauls' present moment, so, naturally, he is writing to Timothy about qualifications to be found in the then-existent pool of candidates. Besides, all Paul is saying here is that, if the man is married, he may not divorce and remarry. Nowhere does he say that marriage is a prerequisite for ordination. If that were so, he hmself would not be a candidate, as he was unmarried and never entered into marriage!
My pardon for throwing in all other Rites instead of pin pointing the Latin Rite as the one with celibate priests. I don't think the Pope is demanding all Catholic Priests to be celibate. But, I doubt the Pope will reverse the vows. I hope that the other Rites aren't worried.
The Church does not say that the celibate priesthood of the Western Church is a matter of faith. It is a matter of discipline. Theoretically, it could be abolished or amended tomorrow. But don't bet on it. There are lots of good reasons why the West has embraced celibacy for priest, many of then based on the writings of St. Paul already quoted on this thread.
Since it is a matter of discipline, and not one of doctrine, there is no inherent contradiction within Catholicism byt virtue of the existence of a maried Eastern clergy. They simply do not choose to mandate celibacy in their priesthood. And even in the East, bishops *must* come from the ranks of the (many) priests who never married.
Why should a single rite within one church be unable to accept priest accepted in almost all other rites?
Why should priests from the other rites not be able to serve within latin rite churches?
There is a contradiction when churches suffer from not being able to find a priest and cannot accept one from a church which practices a different rite.
Go back to your monastic, buddhist-like religion that you call "christianity"...
***"Go back to your monastic,buddhist-like religion that you call "Christianity"***
How do you think Jesus would react to this statement from you???
Traditions.
Not scripture. Not calling from God, tradition.
That is the excuse for forcing those called to the priest hood to take a vow of celibacy whether they want to or not.
Frankly If God intended that there should be only celibate priests in the Latin rite perhaps if they dropped the requirement they would be blessed by only candidates willing to do so.
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