or
Posted on 03/26/2011 12:59:03 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg
I'm interpreting that remark as sarcasm.
It is actually using their own words back upon them. The theme often distills down to the idea that celibacy is unnatural and leads automatically to child molesting or other crimes against people.
There are many Catholic young men who revere God and would love to be pastors. The problem for these boys is that they also like girls and find it impossible to give up the thought of a wife and family.
It is not impossible to be a married priest. It is just that Scripture and Church practice indicate that a celibate state can be more optional to serving God and not being distracted from Christianity and the worship and serving of God.
These boys could also be kind and loving pastors. I don't believe any passages in the Bible are opposed to that concept.
The Church permits married deacons (who are ordained) and the Latin Church discourages married priests and will not allow married bishops. The East has more married priests, but still prefers unmarried ones. Monks and cloistered brothers/sisters are celibate. Serving the Church within Church discipline can be done in the married state. And it is practice, a discipline, not dogma. Theoretically I could be made Pope, with a wife and six kids. But probably not, within the Church disciplines.
Let us see what Scripture says about celibacy in the service of God:
Matthew 19: 9 I say to you, 7 whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery." 10 [His] disciples said to him, "If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry." 11 He answered, "Not all can accept [this] word, 8 but only those to whom that is granted. 12 Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage 9 for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it."
Jesus tells us that some men are granted the state of celibacy for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Now, we know that Paul was a voluntary celibate. What does he say?
1 Corinthians 7: 1 2 3 Now in regard to the matters about which you wrote: "It is a good thing for a man not to touch a woman," ... 6 This I say by way of concession, 4 however, not as a command. 7 Indeed, I wish everyone to be as I am, but each has a particular gift from God, 5 one of one kind and one of another. 8 6 Now to the unmarried and to widows, I say: it is a good thing for them to remain as they are, as I do, 9 but if they cannot exercise self-control they should marry, for it is better to marry than to be on fire.
If you can do it, be celibate Paul says, but if you cannot, then be moral in your relations. Good.
26 So this is what I think best because of the present distress: that it is a good thing for a person to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek a separation. Are you free of a wife? Then do not look for a wife. 28 If you marry, however, you do not sin, nor does an unmarried woman sin if she marries; but such people will experience affliction in their earthly life, and I would like to spare you that.
More urging for celibacy.
32 I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. 33 But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34 and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit. A married woman, on the other hand, is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to impose a restraint upon you, but for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without distraction. 36 13 14 If anyone thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, and if a critical moment has come and so it has to be, let him do as he wishes. He is committing no sin; let them get married. 37 The one who stands firm in his resolve, however, who is not under compulsion but has power over his own will, and has made up his mind to keep his virgin, will be doing well. 38 So then, the one who marries his virgin does well; the one who does not marry her will do better.
Okay; Paul argues for celibacy very strongly to the Corinthians.
Jeremiah 56: 3 2 Let not the foreigner say, when he would join himself to the LORD, "The LORD will surely exclude me from his people"; Nor let the eunuch say, "See, I am a dry tree." 4 For thus says the LORD: To the eunuchs who observe my sabbaths and choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant, 5 3 I will give, in my house and within my walls, a monument and a name Better than sons and daughters; an eternal, imperishable name will I give them.
Even hoary old Isaiah is told by the Lord that eunuchs who serve Him will be rewarded for that celibate service. Therefore, I must conclude that while celibacy is not required to serve the Lord, there are certain roles which call for or are able to better be served in by celibates.
Now this is an interesting question. I don't know. I went to school with young men who were embarrassed to say they were seminarians. I never was, even when I went in the military.
I never realized until I was about forty that the Gospel of John was written for me, personally. The Gospel of John changes everything. John tells us we all have a real shot at the big prize even if we can't brag about our lives to this point. The others say much the same but not with the same eloquence.
I think I might have made a good priest. I think I might have made a great one if the option of joining the Archdiocese of the Military were ever presented. The key to the city would have been female companionship. It wasn't in the cards in those days.
The evil that was committed was transferring priests to other towns and churches so that they could harm other children.
This was AN evil that compounded the evil. I think bishops that did this were either pederasts themselves or earned for themselves reservations in the deepest regions of hell or both. If they are extant, and it can be proved, they need to be put in prison.
Bishops who transfer evil don't play by the rules. They never have.
Christ used sarcasm to make points .. was He not a "Christian "?
There was no celibacy in the Catholic church until the priests in Spain started to give “church” property to their wives and children
Well, harpies do have ears; and may even understand portions of human speech. Christianity does seem a bit much for them, though.
But they do represent CATHOLICISM. As a matter of fact, by your own admission they represent the US Conference of CATHOLIC Bishops.
Thus, they represent Catholicism.
Conservative Catholic vs. liberal Catholic.
So much for unity in the ranks.
Oh, and if you're going to split Catholicism into *conservative* and *liberal*, what are you going to do about the number of 1.2 billion members strong that keeps being bandied about when someone wants bragging rights on how big the Catholic church is. You aren't seriously going to try to convince anyone that that's the number of *conservative* Catholics out there, are you?
Seems that FRoman Catholics are more than happy to count the liberals that FRomans Catholics claim they denounce when it comes to counting them for membership roles.
Can you say *hypocrisy*?
I think you would have made a very good priest.
Goodnight to all...
If you have stats that are much different than those which show that overall RCs are more liberal (see above) than evangelicals, as are most mainline Prots, then let me know, as all i have found is the contrary. Thanks.
So, am I a liberal?
I suggest you read up on the strife between the Vatican and the USCCB. It is a rather tumultuous relationship.
or
Not uncharitable sarcasm.
I’m not doubting you, but what are some examples of him using sarcasm to make a point?
Are you really 83?
Virtually every Catholic I knew and worked with voted Democratic.
When confronted about the abortion issue, they weaseled their way around it, mostly with some nonsense about how the Democrats help the poor so that’s why they voted dem.
I guess the moral evil of abortion wasn’t an issue for them. A woman’s right to choose, don’t you know? Doling out more welfare and getting more people on the government teat was more important than not murdering children.
And we’re talking some pretty committed Catholics. Just like the FRoman Catholics on FR claim to be; allegedly knowledgeable about the church, KofC, taught catechism, ran Bingo, mass more than once a week for almost any reason.
You know the type I’m sure.
Should of capitalized Him.
My experience is the opposite.
See post 178....Ok, then it was condescending. Christians should not be condescending when dealing with others.
Physician, heal thyself.
Or is it more of *Do as I say, not as I do*?
Catholics are pretty good about that.
The Vatican is a City-State, located inside of the city of Rome.
I've actually been to both. Here are a couple of pics:
My comment was in a tone of resignation, not condescension.
I could have said how funny and stupid her statement was, but I decided against it.
I think what I said was perfectly polite, especially considering the many other ways I could have responded.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.