That sneaky desperate Catholic Church is at it again

American Papist ^ | July 22, 2006 | Thomas

[NYer]

... or so claims the Washington Post:

Trying to Hook More Youths on Priesthood

In this era of Eminem and Britney Spears, of sexy sitcoms and sexier commercials, of high-speed Internet and instant gratification, a life of celibacy devoted to God can be a hard sell to a teenager.

So as the nation's Roman Catholic leaders gathered recently and watched a video called "Fishers of Men," designed to draw young men to the priesthood, they had good reason to worry about the future of their chosen way of life.

Church leaders have long been aware of the statistics. There are now about 43,000 Catholic priests in America, down from more than 58,000 in 1965. As the U.S. Catholic population has risen to about 70 million, more churches have had to share priests.

What receives less attention is that the men who go into the seminary generally don't do so until later in life. The average age of newly ordained priests was 36 last year, up from 28 in the 1960s and 26 in the 1940s.

...

Observers of vocational trends say more effort is needed now because of smaller families, with parents who want grandchildren; a secularized culture wary of lifetime commitment and celibacy; Catholic assimilation in America; and increased family mobility, which detracts from parish loyalties. [More...]

Aw dang, Jeff, you caught us red-handed!

[Wings-n-Wind]

Dear AAM...

Thanks for your thoughts...

The Word only tells us that this occurred in Peter's house (better translated household)-- the custom of the culture was that elders remained honored through the care of the extended family -- (5th commandment!). Then the Word only tells us that she did get up and prepare the meal.... not why -- or none of any mitigating circumstances

Those are the facts -- methinks

Reasonable possibilities--from which we should not infer doctrine:

Quite likely that Peter's house (household) included many homes on one common property -- perhaps Mom-in-law was in her own home --as part of Peter's household (holdings)

Perhaps in her gratitude for God's mercy --- it was something she wanted to do -- as an expression of thanks --and honor to Jesus -- he didn't receive honor everywhere he went!

Perhaps Peter's wife was only temporarily absent -- helping with the family business, quick to trip to Wal-Mart... (humor)

Be blessed.... Keep the conversation going!!

Have a wonderful Lord's day!

[Petronski]

Where in Corinthians does it say priests should be celibate?

Is this a riddle? I don't recall claiming it does.

[marajade]

No, I've never been led around by the nose by some priest in the pulpit. Where in Corinthians does it say that priests should be celibate?

[sitetest]

Dear landerwy,

"When someone has been forced to engage in that act then their liberty and right to choose has been violated. That then goes to where I believe they should have an option based on their circumstances of whether to continue through the pregnancy."

I understand your perspective. However, I still don't see why it grants to a person the right to kill an innocent human being for the crime of the guilty human being.

As well, practically speaking, I've known a few rape victims in my life, including that became pregnant. From what I've actually seen in my life, I believe that bringing the baby to term and giving birth is healing.


sitetest

[marajade]

I believe God wrote the Word, including the letters. How do you get past John 1?

[Old Student]

"The problem is not a life of celibate chastity, but rather that most young people are discouraged from a religious vocation by society's influence. This is not a phenomenon that is limited to the Catholic Church either, if I recall correctly."

You are correct in that. I'm LDS (Mormon) and we have much the same problem with our youth. I was, long ago, a Baptist, too. They also had the same problem. I expect every church that asks their children to be modest and chaste has that sort of problem. Our young men, and young women, too, are asked to be celibate, although not for life. Many have a difficult time doing it, and some fail.

For that matter, it isn't easy for older singles in our church. Society takes sexual activity for granted, these days, at practically any age. In our church, every man is supposed to be a priest, and unmarried men are also supposed to be celibate. (The same is true of unmarried women, except they don't hold the priesthood.)

[sitetest]

Dear neocon,

I understand your frustrations. I'm fortunate that at a relatively tender age, I was subjected to the mercies of formal logic, as well as training in a language other than my native tongue. I found that the study of a foreign language enormously improved my grasp of English, of grammar, of the "metaphysics" of language, and of human logic.


sitetest

[marajade]

"God knows you're pro-abortion too."

I defined my position. You can make all the judgments you want and what I would expect a self righteous person to make.

Thankfully, you aren't God and again, why would I want to be if this is what God in your church was offering?

[marajade]

Why make it a discipline when the scriptures were against it?

[marajade]

You didn't. But the other poster did.

[sitetest]

Dear marajade,

A word to the wise, the Religion Moderator has a very low tolerance for even the most mild of obscenities.

"I believe that God wrote the Word."

You mean that you don't believe that Moses wrote the Pentateuch, and King David wrote the Psalms, and St. Matthew wrote, well, Matthew, and... St. Paul wrote the first epistle to Timothy?

Tell me, where are the manuscripts written by God's Hand? What color ink did he use?

As for the Muslims, their belief is a little different from our belief, in that they believe that the Koran was directly written by God, delivered by the angel Gabriel to the prophet Mohammed.

The Koran is actually in the first person, singular, with Allah doing the talking.


sitetest

[neocon]

Where in Corinthians does it say that priests should be celibate?

I gave a quotation at #285. It demonstrates that St. Paul was celibate, and it shows him recommending celibacy as a desirable state.

St. Paul was celibate. St. Paul was a bishop. Therefore it is possible to be both celibate and a bishop.

It follows that your interpretation of 1 Timothy is erroneous. I have offered an interpretation which is consistent with 1 Corinthians 7. You have not.

It's quite simple, really. And the use of logic has nothing to do with "being led around by the nose by some priest".

[marajade]

Report me to the moderator. I quoted scripture. 2nd Tim 3:16.

You're threatening me now because I won't bow to what you think?

[marajade]

When was Paul celibate? Before or after God came upon him? And what does that have to do with first Timothy?

[sitetest]

Dear marajade,

I could have already reported you, but I didn't.

You quoted Sacred Scripture, but you also referred to my discussion of Muslim beliefs using a mild obscenity.

In charity, I advised you that you might want to avoid even the mildest obscenities, because the Religion Moderator has shown very low tolerance for that type of language.

"No good deed goes unpunished."


sitetest

[Pyro7480]

People have been trying to educate you about this, but it's not taking. Why would you listen to me?

[marajade]

"but you also referred to my discussion of Muslim beliefs using a mild obscenity."

You introduced the Muslim belief in this thread.

[landerwy]

Because there is a law of self defense and law of liberty. That is a major part of what this country was founded on. We have the right to defend ourselves from crime and and as far as possible the right to defend ourselves from the consequences of crime. Why do I or you have the right to force someone through a pregnancy that was forced upon them through criminally obscene behavior? There are many circumstances and situtations different people have that I can not judge who find themselves in these dilemmas. That is why I believe that it should be a choice for them as then the innocent life will truly bring healing.

So I will agree with you on the most important point and hope that someday we can have appropriate dialogue on how the law can be post roe vs wade!!!

[sitetest]

Dear marajade,

"You introduced the Muslim belief in this thread."

But I didn't introduce the use of an obscenity.

It is that to which the Religion Moderator would object.


sitetest

[neocon]

I found that the study of a foreign language enormously improved my grasp ...

I read recently that learning at least one foreign language is correlated with a reduced incidence of Alzheimer's disease. So it's good for keeping those "little grey cells" (thank you, Inspector Poirot) limber, as well. It's a pity so many colleges have dropped their foreign language requirement.

That was off-topic, though ... sorry.