Synod Affirms Priestly Celibacy

Vivificat! - A Personal Catholic Blog of News, Commentary, Opinion, and Reflections ^ | 26 October 2005 | Teófilo

[Teófilo]

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Rev 2:7).

Folks, according to Religion News Service and Beliefnet:

As more than 250 bishops filed into St. Peter's Square for a Sunday Mass that concluded the first synod of Pope Benedict XVI's reign, there were few signs of the lively debate that shook up the assembly's launch.

After weeks of soul-searching that identified Catholicism's global priest shortage and the sacramental status of remarried Catholics as top concerns, the bishops came full circle, reaffirming traditional teaching, based on Christ's example, as the best answer to the challenges of modernity.

"The synodal work allowed us to deepen the salient aspects of this mystery, given to the church from the beginning," Benedict told the synod's bishops, who convened in Rome on Oct. 2 to merely advise Benedict, not set policy. "How can we not take up, once again, the invitation by the beloved Pope John Paul II to `start again from Christ'?"

At the start of the worldwide gathering, bishops had jockeyed to set the synod agenda and test the limits of their freshman pontiff. Issues often ducked during John Paul's 26-year reign took center stage as bishops pondered the possibility of introducing exemplary married men known as "viri probati" into the priesthood as a means of stemming the priest shortage. One bishop even challenged the theological validity of the priesthood's celibacy requirement.

At the Sunday Mass, Benedict offered an initial reaction to the synod while giving a clear reaffirmation of traditional church teaching.

Priestly celibacy is "a precious gift and the sign of the undivided love towards God," Benedict said, linking the practice of celibacy to the Eucharist, the sacrament of bread and wine that was the synod's official theme.

Read the entire piece here.

Commentary. Roma locuta est, causa finita est. Rome has spoken, end of story. The Holy Spirit is not leading the Church to move in this direction yet. Would it ever happen? The door is not closed but you know, to me, it doesn't matter, I'm not going to lose any sleep, and I am not going to agitate and push for my very private opinion, to wit, that Latin Rite priests should be allowed the chance to marry before ordination according to the Eastern Rite model.

What I think the Spirit is telling us is that the Latin Rite has a special mission in today's world and that candidates to the priesthood in this rite should be prepared to live a radical, countercultural life of selfless renunciation. We must see that this is the radical example the Spirit is demanding that Catholic priests give the world.

Wiseacres who care little about such things may decry the radical renunciation symbolized in a celibate life. They will point out how conterintuitive and unnatural that choice is. So be it. We are not called to live according to mere nature, but according to "graced" nature, according to "super" nature, a life animated by another Power and oriented to other goals. The world will never understand it but, as I progress more and more in the ways of the Lord, I care progressively less about the critics' opinions on the matter of mandatory priestly celibacy in the Latin Rite.

This has been the most open Synod in my memory. The issue was discussed openly, but the Synodal Fathers chose not to pursue this course. Pope Benedict reinforced their choice. I am at peace with that: Peter has spoken through Benedict, and the Apostles through the Bishops.

Let's go back to work on our own salvation and that of others.

[A.A. Cunningham]

And according to the book of Hebrews, it has NOTHING to do with celibacy.

Wrong once again.

"For this Melchisedech was king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him: To whom also Abraham divided the tithes of all: who first indeed by interpretation, is king of justice: and then also king of Salem, that is, king of peace: Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but likened unto the Son of God, continueth a priest for ever." Hebrews 7:1-3

Why Celibacy? — The Biblical Foundations of Priestly Celibacy

"Priest According to the Order of Melchisedech"

'They say, accordingly, that the blessed Peter, on seeing his wife led to death, rejoiced on account of her call and conveyance home, and called very encouragingly and comfortingly, addressing her by name, "Remember thou the Lord." Such was the marriage of the blessed and their perfect disposition towards those dearest to them.

Thus also the apostle says, "that he who marries should be as though he married not," and deem his marriage free of inordinate affection, and inseparable from love to the Lord; to which the true husband exhorted his wife to cling on her departure out of this life to the Lord.'

St. Clement of Alexandria The Stromata Book VII Chapter XI

You are living proof that where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise.

[gamarob1]

Holy cow. You're serious, right? Melchezedek had no mother or father, because he is a picture of Jesus Himself, the eternal One, though coming in human flesh, yet without beginning and without end. You take that as "celibacy"??? No wonder catholics are so messed up.

And where did you get the fairy tale about Peter's wife? Don't much care for scripture, do you?

This is like arguing with a squash. Let's not do this, okay?