CBS’s Rodriguez: Catholic Church Too ‘Stringent,’ Should Be ‘More Progressive’ [Ecumenical]

NewsBusters.org ^ | 5/29/2009 | Kyle Drennen

[Pyro7480]

While reporting on disgraced priest Alberto Cutie leaving the Catholic Church in the wake of a sex scandal, on Friday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez asked CBS News analyst Father Thomas Williams about the Church’s celibacy rule: "It seems to me that the Catholic Church, at least in south Florida, is not necessarily being introspective and considering whether Father Cutie and others have left the Catholic Church, and others are failing to join, because of its stringent rules. Would you like to see your church be more introspective, more progressive?"

When the story about Father Cutie first broke in early May, Rodriguez then asked Father Williams if it was time for the Catholic Church to overturn the "outdated" and "rigid" vow of celibacy that it requires of its priests. She went on to describe the vow as a "nearly impossible standard." On May 11, Rodriguez interviewed Cutie, and asked: "You don't believe that the celibacy promise should be lifted?...If they don't change this policy, do you think that they will continue to lose people, or fail to recruit people who feel the Church is too rigid?"

[OpusatFR]

” But Father Cutie is a single person, loving another single person, and when you have to obey your heart, indeed, what – the teaching that he could tell our people is that love is able to conquer everything.”

Oy. The Episcopal Church is certainly welcome to those who think love of self, living a lie, disobedience, pride, and scandel is a higher good than Christ.

Cutie could have asked to be laicized. He chose to be a publicity hound celebrity scoffing at his vows.

Y’all are welcome to him.

[PanzerKardinal]

Heresy always seems to start below the waistline.

[Free Vulcan]

The problem is that ‘Progressive’ has religious connotations all it’s own. It’s not much more than saying ‘my religious beliefs are better than yours’.

To which I always ask ‘by what divine authority?’

[DPMD]

I can see it now: Next to the living Constitution, the living Ten Commandments.

[nickcarraway]

So do you think that we should lock up everyone over a certain age who isn’t married, because they are committing “unnatural acts?”

[A.A. Cunningham]

How about some consistency in your "moderating".

"I never saw anything in the Bible that said priests should be celibate/single. Because the Catholic Church decided to do something that is unnatural, a lot of the people who chose to become Catholic priests are gay. Changing this rule will do nothing to degrade the standards of the Church, and will bring in some badly needed new blood to the priesthood."

12 posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 12:52:14 PM by winner3000
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Refuting ignorant posts isn't antagonistic.

[Iscool]

Refuting ignorant posts isn't antagonistic.

It's not an ignorant post...It makes perfect sense...The Apostle Paul did NOT say that if you stay single like he did and become a pastor that God would kick you out of that position if you found you weren't able to stay single...

Paul said it's good if you can be an unmarried pastor but most won't be able to...

One should be able to assume that truth goes for Catholics as well...Most will not be able to remain celebate...

[Alex Murphy]

Refuting ignorant posts isn't antagonistic.

Only if it's done right.

[Desdemona]

I never saw anything in the Bible that said priests should be celibate/single. Because the Catholic Church decided to do something that is unnatural, a lot of the people who chose to become Catholic priests are gay.

Actually, the gays snuck in. There are a few left in the older ranks, but the young guys - no. At least not here. Gays are generally screened out.

Changing this rule will do nothing to degrade the standards of the Church, and will bring in some badly needed new blood to the priesthood.

This keeps coming up, and frankly some of the most liberal dingbats I know would be the first ones to sign up. Talk about Mass by the rubrics going out the window. That would be the first thing to go. One of the most obnoxious priests I've come across is a widower. If that's what we're going to get, I'll take the nice, conservative boys currently in the seminary, thank you.

[bdeaner]

Maggie Rodriguez is a...