Priest shortage stems from crisis of faith, ignorance of the infinite, not celibacy, say Bishops

Catholic New Agency ^ | Oct. 13, 2005

[Petrosius]

Priest shortage stems from crisis of faith, ignorance of the infinite, not celibacy, say Bishops

Vatican City, Oct. 13, 2005 (CNA) - Speaking to reporters at a press conference today following the presentation of a new working document for the General Synod of Bishops, currently being held in the Vatican, bishop delegates said that priest shortages in many parts of the world are not the result of celibacy, as many suggest, but of a crisis of faith and a misunderstanding of the divine.

Present in the Holy See Press office were the Synod's three president delegates, Cardinals Francis Arinze, Juan Sandoval Iñiguez and Telesphore Placidus Toppo, as well as Archbishop John Patrick Foley, president of the Commission for Information of the Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, and Bishop Sofron Stefan Mudry O.S.B.M., vice-president of the same commission.

Asked why, given the lack of priests in some regions, the solution of priestly ordination of married men was still being put in doubt,  Cardinal Toppo told reporters that "the real problem is a crisis of faith, the lack of priests is a symptom of that crisis."

Likewise, Cardinal Sandoval cited other reasons for the shortage of priests, namely, "a lack of faith, secularization, and the closing of the window onto infinity."

Ukrainian Bishop Mudry added that, despite the fact that Eastern Catholic Churches admit married priests, this does not solve the problem because "they also have to dedicate time to their families ... and its is difficult for them to move to another area to continue their mission, if their bishop so requests."

The question of celibacy and of a lack of priests has been steadily discussed throughout the course of the Synod, as have other controversial questions like reception of the Eucharist for some non, and estranged Catholics.

Speaking on divorced people being permitted to communion, Cardinal Arinze said that the Church "shows compassion to these people who are suffering, and although they cannot partake of communion - because their position does not reflect the image of unity between Christ and the Church (bridegroom and bride) - they continue to be members of the Church."

As to the question posed by some Synod Fathers of greater homogeneity of enculturation, Cardinal Toppo stressed that this "is essential, and is the expression of a people's faith." Cardinal Sandoval added: "what is important is that hymns, dance, color, etc., help to encourage interior life, to unite oneself with the Lord, and that the ceremony does not become merely a show for entertainment."

Cardinal Arinze said added that he was particularly struck by the desire of Synod participants to more fully transmit the faith to their flocks and "to 'ars celebrandi,' that the faith upon which the people of God have fed in the church may accompany them when they leave the building, and encourage them to share what they have received with others."

[mike182d]

Priest shortage stems from crisis of faith, ignorance of the infinite, not celibacy, say Bishops

Absolutely 100% true.

I am a personal witness to the upswing of vocations to the priesthood that is arising from this mess and it was all because of faith.

The fundamental call to the priesthood is death to self in service to others. When certain members of the Church - who shall remain nameless - only give homilies about how Jesus is just one big, cuddly teady-bear, who is going to die for that? BUT...when you have someone actually proclaim the Truth in its fullness, who proclaims unequivocally without a doubt that faith in Jesus Christ and His work through the Sacraments is necessary, men will willingly give their lives for that. The greatest number of seminarians we had from our parish occured when we had a wonderful Monsignor who told it like it is. A few people did not like being taken out of their comfort zones, complained to the Bishop, and had him moved to some podunk town. Since then, applicants to the seminary have decreased.

The priesthood shortage has NOTHING to do with celibacy.

[jo kus]

Agree. The problem is that the churches at the local level have done an absolutely abysmal job in teaching the faith as given from 2000 years ago. In their efforts to teach a "Gospel" that appeals to everyone, especially secular America, it has lost sight of the mystery and sovereignty that is God. WHY would anyone want to sacrifice all that becoming a priest entails for the watered-down version of garbage that we hear at many parishes in the US and Europe? Rather than being counter-cultural, the local churches have tried mightly in preaching an appealing gospel that Joe Smith can go to church on Sunday and do nothing else - no dying to self, no carrying the cross. By being changing the liturgy, our sense of awe and mystery is lost. By not teaching the faith, we don't even realize that we are ALL called to become disciples of Christ.

Is it a wonder there is a priest shortage???

Regards

[ThomasMore]

"a lack of faith, secularization, and the closing of the window onto infinity."

He forgot "poor witness on the part of an emasculated priesthood", "seminaries that wreak of homosexuality and modernist thinking", and the denial of any married man who may be called to the priesthood. None of this should be left out.

[mike182d]

and the denial of any married man who may be called to the priesthood.

I agree with everything you said in that last statement except for this line.

When Christ says to Peter "what you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and what you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" means that the will of God and Christ works through the Church, not against it. If, by the authority of the Church as given to it by Christ, the Church decides not to allow married men in the priesthood, Christ isn't going to rebel against the Church's authority - thereby undermining it - and call married men to the priesthood. Christ would change the Church first.

[Maeve]

The priest shortage stems from the goons and vipers we have had for bishops.

[ThomasMore]

Christ isn't going to rebel against the Church's authority - thereby undermining it - and call married men to the priesthood.

The Church already ordains married men. There has never been a period in time that it didn't. The Latin Rite has chosen MANDATORY celibacy. Your argument is based on a statement that pertains to faith and morals. Celibacy is a discipline. It is a great gift to those who can accept it and use it to build up the kingdom. But, nonetheless, a discipline.

[ThomasMore]

The priest shortage stems from the goons and vipers we have had for bishops.

Add that to post 5 as well.

;^)

[mike182d]

The Church already ordains married men.

The Latin Rite of the Catholic Church has not "ordained" any married men, at least to my recollection. It does allow for Byzantine Rite priests to marry and if a married man was ordained in another tradition prior to conversion, the Church acknowledge his priestly status, but it doesn't ordain married people as priests.

Your argument is based on a statement that pertains to faith and morals. Celibacy is a discipline.

Yes, but a priest takes a vow of obedience which means that in order for any man to become priest in the Latin Rite, they must, by necessity, be competely obedient to the will of the Magesterium. This type of discline is not on the same level as, say, not eating fish on Friday's.

Christ, through the Church and the Church only, confers upon a man the office of priest. Thus, if Christ truly desired for married men to be priests in the Latin Rite, would He not first make changes to that through which He makes men priests in the first place?

I knew a girl who, through much prayer, thought at one time that she was being called to be ordained a priest. What's the best way to "test the spirits" of one's discernment? By what Christ allows through the Church - that is why He gave it to us, as a guide.

My point is that if Christ wanted married men in the Latin Rite to become priests, He would tell the Church before He told the would-be Seminarian. That's the whole reason we have a hierarchy to begin with.

[nanetteclaret]

Wolves in shepherd's clothing.

[nanetteclaret]

This is not entirely true. Priests of the Anglican Use, which is part of the Latin Rite, can be ordained if they had been Episcopal/Anglican priests before converting and go through the instruction process afterwards - even if they are married. The priest at my church is such an example.

[mike182d]

Priests of the Anglican Use, which is part of the Latin Rite, can be ordained if they had been Episcopal/Anglican priests before converting and go through the instruction process afterwards - even if they are married.

Operative words: "if they had been Episcopal/Anglican priests before converting."

According to the Church, these married priests were ordained prior to entering into the Latin Rite and therefore their ordination was not at the hands of the Latin Rite.

Today, the Latin Rite does not itself ordain married men.

[nanetteclaret]

No, my priest was ordained into the Roman Catholic church after he converted. He had to go through a period of study and a process, but he was re-ordained. Come to think of it, I know another former Episcopal priest, still married, who converted then was re-ordained into the Latin Rite, so it's not always into the Anglican Use. They all have to go through a process (application, study, etc.), then they are re-ordained.

[nanetteclaret]

P.S. Here is the church website:

http://www.stmarythevirgin.org/

Go to "About St. Marys" on the left, then click on "Bishop Delaney's decree establishing the parish." You will see the following near the end of the letter:

“It is my intention that the Reverend Allen Hawkins, upon his ordination to the sacred priesthood, will be appointed the first pastor of the new parish.”

Fr. Hawkins and the whole parish converted to the Roman Catholic Church, then he was ordained a Roman Catholic priest not too long afterwards (I think about three months later).

[Convert from ECUSA]

BAM! You nailed it! :)

[ThomasMore]

The Latin Rite of the Catholic Church has not "ordained" any married men

There are plenty of ex-lutheran and ex-anglican/episcopal men that are married and are priests in the Latin Rite. And yes, these have to be ordained because they have no valid orders.

priest takes a vow of obedience

I am a married Deacon who has taken the same vow of obedience. Not sure what this has to do with being married? It certainly doesn't ill effect either of my vocations.

I knew a girl who, through much prayer, thought at one time that she was being called to be ordained a priest.

Married men were in the Latin Rite since the beginning, absent for the last 1000 years but only in the Latin Rite. But women have never been, nor can they ever be ordained simply because the priest serves In Persona Christi and women are not men.

I know several married priests, either ex-lutheran or ex-anglican, and they are all superb priests, very loyal to the Magisterium. As protestants they were married and later ordained as ministers. Years later when they converted to Catholicism they were ordained to the priesthood through a dispensation. They had a call to the priesthood. Unfortunately the same doesn't hold true for a man raised in the Catholic faith in the Latin Rite.

When all is said and done, my friend, it is not marriage or celibacy that makes a good priest, but rather how the man's heart is configured to the Lord. I know too many good priests, both celibate and married, to say any different.

[mike182d]

He had to go through a period of study and a process, but he was re-ordained.

There's really no such thing as "re-ordination." When a baptized Protestant wants to enter into the Church, they don't have to be "re-baptized" but still have to go through the same RCIA program as those who are. The process of catechesis for new members of the Church is not an "ordination" but rather an affirmation of the validity of his prior ordination, just as catechisis for a baptized Protestant isn't a re-baptism but an affirmation of the validity of his prior baptism.

I really think something is being "lost in translation" here and the Reverend is not being entirely clear with what actually happened.

I have not seen a married man from another faith, who was not a Protestant "priest" before conversion, have the office of priest conferred upon him within the Latin Rite. There really isn't anything in the rubrics allowing for such a thing - unless it was allowed by means of a special indult.

[mike182d]

Ah, right on the website is your answer:

A parish of the Pastoral Provision of Pope John Paul II for the Anglican Usage of the Roman Rite

The Church is not a "Latin Rite" Church. It is part of the Church of Rome, but provisionally under rules provided for "Anglican Usage."

[mike182d]

There are plenty of ex-lutheran and ex-anglican/episcopal men that are married and are priests in the Latin Rite. And yes, these have to be ordained because they have no valid orders.

If a Protestant is married and was not assigned to a priestly office in their former denomination, then they cannot be ordained priests in the Latin Rite - although I'm sure there are some by indult. In this day and age, Rome doesn't seem to like being too "authoritative" on things.

I am a married Deacon who has taken the same vow of obedience. Not sure what this has to do with being married? It certainly doesn't ill effect either of my vocations.

The office of Deacon, while being ordained clergy, is not the same as the office of priest. Your vow of obedience made to Rome contains no stipulations regarding the celibacy of deacons.

Married men were in the Latin Rite since the beginning, absent for the last 1000 years but only in the Latin Rite. But women have never been, nor can they ever be ordained simply because the priest serves In Persona Christi and women are not men.

Celibate men were also in the Latin Rite from the beginning and was encouraged. It wasn't until later that it was made mandatory, but that does not mean Rome never supported the practice prior. It has always been in the Church.

I know several married priests, either ex-lutheran or ex-anglican, and they are all superb priests, very loyal to the Magisterium. As protestants they were married and later ordained as ministers. Years later when they converted to Catholicism they were ordained to the priesthood through a dispensation. They had a call to the priesthood. Unfortunately the same doesn't hold true for a man raised in the Catholic faith in the Latin Rite.

These men weren't being "re-ordained" any more than a Protestant coming into the Church has to be "re-baptised" - its more of a validation of their prior ordination. If they had not been ordained ministers prior to entering the Church, they could not be ordained in the Latin Rite. Except for maybe an indult as I mentioned earlier, but I am not aware of this happening.

When all is said and done, my friend, it is not marriage or celibacy that makes a good priest, but rather how the man's heart is configured to the Lord. I know too many good priests, both celibate and married, to say any different.

Rome does not issue disciplines arbitrarily. If they did, those would be "works of the Law" as condemned by Paul and forbidden to be followed. Rome opted to make mandatory the ancient practice of celibacy because it makes them better priests. Otherwise, they would have absolutely no reason to do it and such a discipline is meaningless. Can a married man be a good priest? Absolutely. Would celibacy make him a better priest? Absolutely.