You wrote:
“Its the hypocrisy..THAT is the big deal.”
There is no hypocrisy here. None. Hypocrisy means to say one thing and do another. That is not what is happening. The Church has always has some married priests. Thus, there can be no hypocrisy on this issue now by having some married priests.
“THE CHURCH says it is NOT ok for priests to marry or go into the preisthood married ( unless of course there are “exceptions”)”
False. The Church says it is against practice and tradition for already ordained men to take up a second vocation (i.e. to marry). The church says it wants most of its seminarians to take a vow of celibacy before ordination. Not all are required to do so. What effects that is the Church from which the seminarian comes. If he was a Protestant minister (and already married) or an Eastern Christian (and already married) no vow of celibacy is expected.
“...they say this nationally, internationally...as part of church doctrine “
No. Never. Not once. This has never been and can never be, doctrine.
“...then if there is an “exception”, nothing is said, “Oh well, nothing to see here, move along now...””
Since there have always been married priests in the Church it is not a surprise to us that the Church may choose to allow other exceptions. You ignore those basic facts.
“It is also very much like the hypocrisy of the Ted Kennedy funeral for a pro-choice politician, the “annullment “ for the other Kennedy though his wife fought the church NOT to have it.”
You again have your facts wrong. You seem to have no idea of what your speaking. Ted Kennedy was given a funeral. He was not given a funeral “for a pro-choice politician” - whatever that is. Also, Rauch-Kennedy did fight the annulment and the Church sided with her.
thanks for the clarifications.
I really get conflicted growing up and feeling my RC church is very different and very special. Its hard to get so ‘ecumenical”..if a Lutheran seminarian wants to be a Catholic Priest, ok...huh? News to me.
You are no doubt very correct in your technical points...it is my emotional and spiritual feelings that make it difficult for me to incorporate all this stuff. I guess its not hypocrisy, its just never how it was presented to me and to the world in general.