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To: kosta50
Celibacy in the Latin Church is a long-standing, self-imposed human discipline, nothing else. It is not Scriptural.

Only partially right. While celibacy is only a human discipline, it is a evangelical counsel:

[His] disciples said to him, "If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry." [Jesus] answered, "Not all can accept [this] word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it." (Matt. 19:10-12)
But I do agree with you that those who do not wish to follow this counsel should not seek ordination to the priesthood in the Latin rite (although I would not suggest Orthodoxy). The priesthood is not the only way to achieve holiness or serve the Church.

But let us not fall into the trap of thinking that this debate about celibacy in the Latin rite is because there is a large number of men who are seeking to become married priests. Rather, this is a surrogate debate about the Church's teaching on sexual morality. A celibate priesthood is a powerful sign to the world of the need and possibility of sexual restraint. For a world that does not believe in chastity and fidelity in marriage, a celibate priesthood is the ultimate affront.

20 posted on 10/24/2005 10:42:52 AM PDT by Petrosius
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To: Petrosius

Well, Petrosius, I am glad you took the time to quote the Scripture. Celibacy is not required by the Bible. Therefore it is a self-imposed discipline. I respect that, just as I respect the same discipline imposed in the monastic orders -- those who have emptied themselves to such a degree that worldly and physical needs mean nothing to them, celibacy is a natural process in theosis. I just don't think an average parish priest is on that level, but I respect and welcome the Latin discipline as something both the Latin and Greek traditions consider spiritually higher.


22 posted on 10/27/2005 1:06:50 PM PDT by kosta50 (Eastern Orthodoxy is pure Christianity)
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