President of CELAM says celibacy in the Church not up for debate

cna ^ | May 18, 2009

[annalex]

Celibate priesthood is purer because it allows the priest to fully concentrate to the affairs of the Church. As St. Paul explains,

7 ...I would that all men were even as myself: but every one hath his proper gift from God; one after this manner, and another after that. 8 But I say to the unmarried, and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I. 9 But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry.

[...]

32 ...He that is without a wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God. 33 But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided.

(1 Cor. 7)

Celibacy does not lead to either homosexuality of fornication. Some priests are faithless, or lose their faith completely, and have affairs. Some husbands are unfaithful and cheat on their wives. Priests who are married are not miraculously protected from cheating, and on the other hand, unless you prohibit celibacy, people with homosexual tendencies will consider priesthood despite the canonical ban on gay priesthood.

The trend in the early Church was toward celibacy. When a married man became priest he would often practice celibacy within marriage; that is, not share the marital bed with his wife. The Councils of the Church addressed the issue a few times, but never mandated celibacy -- not because celibacy was not seen as best option but because of charity to human weakness of the flesh. Finally, in the Latin Church celibacy took hold. It is an ideal that was approximated since the Early Church that was finally implemented in the West.

[VidMihi]

Good historical response but we must consider today and the needs of the Church today. A simple solution would be required celibacy for those who choose the vowed life, the religious who live in community and who have a commitment "to the common table"

and the option of married or single life for those who take no vows but are ordained "for service to the people of God". These would be the "secular" or worldly clergy who serve parishes under the direction of a bishop.

[annalex]

The needs of the Church today are to present a convincing and uncompromising model of chastity. What you propose serves, perhaps, the needs of some who should insted be deacons, or engage in some lay apostolate, or become priests in an Oriental Rite, but it goes contrary to the needs of the Church in the West.

[VidMihi]

Do you really think that chastity is what the Church is all about?

[annalex]

The Church is about saving souls, so chastity is a necessary, but not sufficient condition of salvation.