Posted on 10/08/2005 12:04:23 PM PDT by NYer
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A lack of priests coupled with people's great need for spiritual nourishment must prompt the church to be open to considering a role for married priests in the life of the church, said some members of the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist.
Coadjutor Bishop Arnold Orowae of Wabag, Papua New Guinea, told synod participants that Catholics who live in remote villages did not have "the opportunity for frequent celebration and reception of the Eucharist."
In his speech Oct. 6, he asked how these communities would then be able to make the Eucharist the source and summit of their lives as the church asks, according to information released by the Vatican.
He said the church needs to reflect on "what kind of priest" they need in their situation, and he asked the church to consider allowing the ordination of "mature Christian men who are strong in faith, very committed, and have the respect of the people." Often times these so-called "viri probati," or "men of proven virtue," are older, married men.
He said these men could "be easily trained to preside at the eucharistic celebration" which would then "make it easy for the people to participate in the Eucharist, so that the importance and centrality of the Eucharist" would "become true for the people."
Some synod fathers -- such as Italian Cardinal Angelo Scola of Venice and Bishop Lucio Muandula of Xai-Xai, Mozambique -- stressed in their talks Oct. 3 and Oct. 6, respectively, that the priest shortage would be better addressed with a more coordinated or just redistribution of celibate priests in the world.
Bishop Brian Noble of Shrewsbury, England, said "prayer for vocations and a sharing of priests among the churches are ways forward, but I suggest the need for a more urgent approach."
While the summary text of his Oct. 7 speech did not mention allowing married men to be priests, he did say "adequate provision" for the celebration of the Eucharist must be the church's priority.
While communities continue to wait for a priest, Bishop Noble proposed that the Vatican consult with the world's bishops to discuss "the extent of the problem" and seek "our views concerning how best to deal with the problem in those countries where the need is acute."
Meanwhile, Cardinal Nasrallah P. Sfeir, the Lebanon-based Maronite Catholic patriarch, said there were pros and cons to married men in the priesthood.
The Maronite church, an Eastern Catholic church, allows married priests, and he said half of their diocesan priests were married.
While admitting married men into the priesthood would solve some problems, it would "create other equally serious" problems, he said in his Oct. 7 talk.
A married priest has to provide for his wife and children and their education, he said. It also becomes difficult if not impossible for the bishop to transfer a priest and his whole family if tensions arise in the parish because the priest "does not have a good relationship with his parishioners."
However, Cardinal Sfeir did say "married priests have carried on the faith" and shared in the hard lives of their people. "Without them, this faith would no longer exist," he added.
Bishop Orowae questioned whether it was necessary for a priest who had to serve poor, often illiterate people in remote areas to have "years of intellectual formation in philosophy and theology."
He stressed ministers would have to have the proper and "necessary training required," but that they would be ordained for the task of only celebrating the Eucharist.
The church needs to clarify its position concerning the nature of the Eucharist, he said.
"Some feel that eucharistic hospitality is important," that "the Eucharist is food for the hungry, not a reward for being good."
He added that there was concern the Eucharist not be seen as "an elitist sacrament" but as "a celebration of the generosity of God."
"Others feel that the Eucharist be given only to those who are adequately prepared," he said. "How should the church explain these different opinions?"
Bishop Denis Browne of Hamilton, New Zealand, president of the Federation of Catholic Bishops' Conferences of Oceania, told the synod Oct. 7: "We, as church, need to be continually open to finding ways in which the Eucharist can become easily available to all our faithful people."
The bishop said Catholics living in small, isolated villages "have as much right to participate in the Eucharist" as those living in big cities.
Bishop Browne also told the synod members, "We need to be sensitive to the questions that the faithful often ask us," including the question: "Why does it seem to be possible for former priests of the Anglican Communion to be ordained and function as Catholic priests, while former Catholic priests who have been dispensed from their vow of celibacy are unable to function in any pastoral way?"
This is unfortunately true, but the solution is not to increase the frequency by rendering the entire Sacrement meaningless by destroying the priesthood.
Mercifully .... these are only discussions but they give great insight into the views of prelates from other parts of the world. Some of them are quite frightening - especially those of Bishop Wabag.
The first popes were maried, the apostles were married.
Are you suggesting that until an unmarried pope celebrated the Eucharist that the sacrement was meaningless?
I agree. I believe these ideas are the result of those modernists who are still trying to take over the church. Celibacy is not a punishment. The Eucharist is not a reward. Celibacy is a gift, both to and from the celibate. The Eucharist is available to all who are in the state of grace. It is the gift to those who present themselves in a state worthy to receive it -- like those invited to the wedding feast who are properly dressed.
Perhaps the problem is that too many, even some who are ordained, do not understand these distinctions. And if this is so, why don't they get it?
No, I am saying that there is no theological reasoning behind this. Changing centuries of tradition merely because it seems convenient puts us on a slippery slope.
That's fairly clear isn't it? The Lord will send the laborers when we ask. Like all prayers, it must be uttered with faith, be sincere, persistent and accompanied by fasting.
If He appears not to be listening, the answer is to re-double our petitions and personal sacrifice, not to ordain women, the married, homos, and anyone else who can fog a mirror.
Were they? We know that Peter was married before he was chosen by Christ to head the Church. Paul and Christ, Himself, we know for a fact were both celibate. Christ advocated celibacy, as did St. Paul.
Matt. 19:11-12 - Jesus says celibacy is a gift from God and whoever can bear it should bear it. Jesus praises and recommends celibacy for full-time ministers in the Church. Because celibacy is a gift from God, those who criticize the Church's practice of celibacy are criticizing God and this wonderful gift He bestows on His chosen ones.
Matt. 19:29 - Jesus says that whoever gives up children for the sake of His name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. Jesus praises celibacy when it is done for the sake of His kingdom.
1 Cor 7:1 – Paul teaches that it is well for a man not to touch a woman. This is the choice that the Catholic priests of the Roman rite freely make.
1 Cor. 7:7 - Paul also acknowledges that celibacy is a gift from God and wishes that all were celibate like he is.
1 Cor. 7:27 – Paul teaches men that they should not seek marriage. In Paul’s opinion, marriage introduces worldly temptations that can interfere with one’s relationship with God, specifically regarding those who will become full-time ministers in the Church.
1 Cor. 7:32-33, 38 - Paul recommends celibacy for full-time ministers in the Church so that they are able to focus entirely upon God and building up His kingdom. He “who refrains from marriage will do better.”
Celibacy is a discipline; it is not dogma. There are Eastern Catholic Churches with married priests.
At the Synod, Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, who is Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites in Lebanon--a Catholic rite which allows for married priests--addressed the issue.
The Cardinal defended the practice of the celibate priesthood and discussed the beauty of the tradition, calling it the "most precious jewel in the treasury of the Catholic Church."
Celibacy is not what is being debated at the Synod, what is is whether married men can be accepted into th priesthood.
"While admitting married men into the priesthood would solve some problems, it would "create other equally serious" problems, he said in his Oct. 7 talk."
He's right.
A married priest has to provide for his wife and children and their education, he said. It also becomes difficult if not impossible for the bishop to transfer a priest and his whole family if tensions arise in the parish because the priest "does not have a good relationship with his parishioners."
Funny he'd think about these issues, a) money and b) the power of a hierarch to move a priest. As to the first, if the Roman Church ordains married men, the Church, meaning essentially the laity will just have to pay up; we Orthodox do, at least in countries where there is no state church. The second id even easier. If the priest becomes a problem in the parish, the bishop moves him whether he and/or his family like it or not. Its called obedience.
The real problem with a married priesthood is divorce and the attendant scandal among the faithful, especially if it involves adultery and even more especially if it is the priest who is the adulterer. That very situation is happening right now in one of our GOA parishes out West. Its awful.
" The church needs to clarify its position concerning the nature of the Eucharist, he (Bishop Orowae) said.
"Some feel that eucharistic hospitality is important," that "the Eucharist is food for the hungry, not a reward for being good."
He added that there was concern the Eucharist not be seen as "an elitist sacrament" but as "a celebration of the generosity of God."
"Others feel that the Eucharist be given only to those who are adequately prepared," he said. "How should the church explain these different opinions?"
Bishop Denis Browne of Hamilton, New Zealand, president of the Federation of Catholic Bishops' Conferences of Oceania, told the synod Oct. 7: "We, as church, need to be continually open to finding ways in which the Eucharist can become easily available to all our faithful people."
Really????: "He, therefore, who approaches the Body and Blood of Christ in commemoration of Him who died for us and rose again must be free not only from defilement of flesh and spirit, in order that he may not eat drink unto judgement, but he must actively manifest the remembrance of Him who died for us and rose again, by being dead to sin, to the world, and to himself, and alive unto God in Christ Jesus, our Lord." St. Basil The Great, "Concerning Baptism" Book I, Ch. 3
And some silly people simply can't understand why we Orthodox say that the Latin Church does not teach the same Faith as we do and thus we are unwilling to rush into the embrace of Rome!
The church needs to clarify its position concerning the nature of the Eucharist, he said. "Some feel that eucharistic hospitality is important," that "the Eucharist is food for the hungry, not a reward for being good."
He added that there was concern the Eucharist not be seen as "an elitist sacrament" but as "a celebration of the generosity of God." "Others feel that the Eucharist be given only to those who are adequately prepared," he said. "How should the church explain these different opinions?"
On one hand, he says a "minister" doesn't need intellectual formation to celebrate the Eucharist ... and then on the other hand, he raises questions about the Eucharist that obviously require considerable intellectual formation. Can't have it both ways, Bishop.
Destroying the priesthood. LOL! You need a serious lesson in church history.
When Cardinal Ratzinger was elected pope in April, one of our parishioners asked Abouna if he thought the Latin Church might 'relax' its rules on married clergy in the Latin Church. His response is too long to post but one that I have shared on previous threads. Essentially, he noted that in the East, matrimony is still viewed as a Sacrament; whereas in the West, divorce rates demonstrate that it has lost its sacramental value (I'm ad libbing probably with poor choice of words). In order for married men to serve as priests, they must view take their marriage vows seriously. Marriage is a Sacrament as is Holy Orders. Married candidates to the priesthood in the Maronite Catholic Church, are subjected to scrupulous evaluation, along with their family, before being allowed to proceed with ordination to the deaconate. It's a long and slow process to reach the priesthood. The Maronite Church still places a much higher value on celibacy. As Patriarch Mar Nasrallah Cardinal Sfeir pointed out in his comments to ther Synod,
"celibacy is the most precious jewel in the treasury of the Catholic Church,"
Lamenting a culture which is all but outright opposed to purity, the Cardinal asked: "How can [celibacy] be conserved in an atmosphere laden with eroticism? Newspapers, Internet, billboards, shows, everything appears shameless and constantly offends the virtue of chastity."
There are already married men in the priesthood. Scroll down and read the comments of Patriarch Sfeir on the implications.
From whom? You?
The Anglicans gave in to such suggestions in the 70's and allowed female clergy, that started them on a downward spiral that is on the brink of destroying them. Lutherans have had the same experience. If this is not a "lesson" for us I don't know what is.
Viri probati is a very old tradition. But I hope that people will not forget that celibacy is equally traditional. It is one thing that distinguished early Christians from the Jews who rejected Christ..
Just last night I was watching "World Over Live" with earnest Raymond Arroyo and the whole show was about the disaster in New Orleans. He had Archbishop Hannan (aged 92) and two other priests who spent quite a lot of time down there ministering to people, saying Mass, finding families, providing food, etc., etc.
While listening to them talk about how they put aside their own lives and lived amongst the displaced, I was struck how what they did is one of the gifts a celibate priesthood gives us. Some of the refugees of other faiths mentioned to the priests that their own pastors had taken their families and left the area - understandable certainly, they needed to make sure their own families were safe and sound. But in the celibate priesthood, these men have forsaken all for the sake of the kingdom and have no such worries.
The priests said how the people were so happy to see them, everywhere they went (they wore the collar) and everyone asked for a blessing, even the non-Catholics. When things calmed down, the priests went and got some of the area pastors from their safe haven and brought them back to NO so their own flock could have services... one of the flock said, but where were they all week?
I thank God for these men who are with us at 2 AM, at our deathbeds, with every morning for Mass, hearing confessions at any time, moving anywhere they are sent, even 'bad' areas - because they are unencumbered by a wife and children.
I realize that a married priesthood would not change the priesthood, but we have a jewel most of us don't appreciate. As for a dwindling priesthood, I would bet that keeps pace with the dwindling people who attend Mass.
Plus, as Fr. Fessio said the other day on the radio (Fresh Air/NPR), there are diocese who have an excess of priests and actually export them... trouble is, many of the laity do not want a priest who says a Mass in Latin... guess the Eucharist isn't wanted too badly.
bump
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