Posted on 11/27/2013 6:13:19 AM PST by NYer
.- Pope Francis reaffirmed Catholic teaching on male priesthood in his first apostolic exhortation, while calling for a broader application of the “feminine genius” in Church life.
“The reservation of the priesthood to males, as a sign of Christ the Spouse who gives himself in the Eucharist, is not a question open to discussion,” he said, “but it can prove especially divisive if sacramental power is too closely identified with power in general.”
The Pope's words came in his new document, “The Joy of the Gospel,” released Nov. 26. Also known as “Evangelii Gaudium,” the apostolic exhortation follows the 2012 bishops' synod on the new evangelization, which was held as part of the Year of Faith.
“Demands that the legitimate rights of women be respected, based on the firm conviction that men and women are equal in dignity, present the Church with profound and challenging questions which cannot be lightly evaded.”
However, this equal dignity cannot be equated with “sacramental power,” he said, quoting Bl. John Paul II’s words that priesthood falls “in the realm of function, not that of dignity or holiness.”
“The ministerial priesthood is one means employed by Jesus for the service of his people, yet our great dignity derives from baptism, which is accessible to all,” Pope Francis reflected. “The configuration of the priest to Christ the head – namely, as the principal source of grace – does not imply an exaltation which would set him above others.”
Although the function of the priesthood is considered “hierarchical,” it is ordered not towards domination but towards serving the members of the Church, he explained, observing that the authority of the priesthood is rooted in service and has its origin in the sacrament of the Eucharist.
Still, the role of women in the Church is important, the Pope said in his exhortation, noting that “a woman, Mary, is more important than the bishops.”
“The Church acknowledges the indispensable contribution which women make to society through the sensitivity, intuition and other distinctive skill sets which they, more than men, tend to possess,” the Holy Father said, pointing as an example to the “special concern which women show to others, which finds a particular, even if not exclusive, expression in motherhood.”
The Pope recognized that women already “share pastoral responsibilities with priests” and contribute to theological reflection.
“But we need to create still broader opportunities for a more incisive female presence in the Church,” he said.
Pointing to Catholic teaching on the “feminine genius,” he explained that women must be free to bring their gifts and skills to the workplace and other areas of decision-making, including within the Church.
Pope Francis also reflected on the broader role of the laity in the Church, saying that they are “the vast majority of the People of God,” and ordained ministers are the minority who are “at their service.”
“There has been a growing awareness of the identity and mission of the laity in the Church,” he said, and there are “many lay persons, although still not nearly enough, who have a deeply-rooted sense of community and great fidelity to the tasks of charity, catechesis and the celebration of the faith.”
Many others, however, still lack an understanding of their responsibility as laity, he continued. Sometimes this is due to inadequate formation, and other times to “an excessive clericalism which keeps them away from decision-making.”
While these challenges are significant, they are not insurmountable, the Pope stated.
“Challenges exist to be overcome!” he said. “Let us be realists, but without losing our joy, our boldness and our hope-filled commitment. Let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of missionary vigour!”
Before that, the Western church, like the Eastern, had a mix of married and celibate clergy. My husband's ancestors are McNabbs (sons of the Abbot).
Along the lines of the Cochini book, I understand that even married deacons were expected to vow celibacy before ordination. That was why a deacon could not be ordained without his wife's permission: she had to be in agreement with the voluntary cessation of marital relations.
That's what it does NOW, sure. What church elected Saul(Paul)? None. God selected him. That was the way Paul was elected. As he evangelized, he chose members to accompany him and they in turn pastored churches. So if a married man wants to become a priest because God called him to service, your church would reject him because of his marriage. You would be thwarting what God wanted through your doctrines which are not founded on Biblical teachings. That's not the way it used to be is all I'm saying.
I remember telling my daughter that she ought to read about the lifes of the women who became saints for an example of women serving in the church. And we are Protestant.
I agree with you: The priesthood will continue to decline, mainly due to demographic factors.
Back in the day-—I’m sure many of us recall-—it was the norm for Catholic families to have a large number of children. Not unusual for a Catholic family to have five or six or in some cases seven or eight children. These families-—especially the most religious and observant-—often encouraged a son or a daughter to enter into vocations. Nowdays, most Catholic families have about the same number of children as most Protestant families-—usually one or two. So now days these families usually don’t encourage their children to enter into the celibate vocations.
Here, in the L.A. Archdiocese-—where I live-—we have large immigrant communities which still produce large families. Consequently most of the new seminarians and priests entering into vocations now come from those communities. The priesthood here used to be of mostly Irish and Italian descent. Now most of the new priests I see coming into the fold around here are of hispanic and Asian descent. Also, I’ve noticed many of the men today entering are considerably older than was once the case. Men who are more sexually mature-—many have been around the block a few times-—and know what is expected of them. Since the pedophile priest scandal, the Archdiocese has gone to great lengths to weed out potential pedophiles.
This is not well supported by Scripture, Ravenwolf. The Church has always been, and still is still made up of sinners. Jesus specifically says, in Matthew 13:24-30, that the Kingdom has wheat and weeds growing in the same field, and will have until the end of time. Every society, including the Church, has to have laws to, as you say, "hold down corruption" --- that's why Jesus gave St. Peter the Power of the Keys of the Kingdom, which is, the power to make laws, to govern.
The Kingdom will never be entirely pure and without corruption until we are all safe in Heaven with our good Lord. Praise to Him forever!
Today, few Catholic parents would want one or both of their 2.0 planned kids to take vows of celibacy.
Contraception is also what is killing marriage --- across the board, for people of all religions. It is killing the marriage culture: families, cities, nations and civilizations. But contraception killed Holy Orders first.
The way things are going these days it’s quite difficult to tell sarcasm from real life. I just read an article about Eric Holder suing a private company because it’s website doesn’t work properly. I thought for sure it was sarcasm but it isn’t. Sigh.
Not just contraception....but economics. Kids are EXPENSIVE these days! We only have one.
You are technically correct if you regard celibacy as strictly unmarried. What Fr. Cochini has pointed out, however, is that those who were married before ordination were required to separate and practice constancy within marriage. In any case, ordination among celibates was still the norm. The West never allowed for a married clergy that still shared bed with their wives.
The most outstanding saints were children of the poor.
The Catholic Church does in fact make allowances for married priests-—I have seen many of them in my Archdiocese-—they came over from the Episcopalian Church. I do not think the Church prohibits these priests from having intimate relations with their wives. The Orthodox Church also permits married priests.
Re: Ought vs must: That is why celibacy is a discipline of the Church not a doctrine.
Eric Holder is yet another reason the future will not take us seriously. Someday, our replacements will look back and ask, “What the freep was wrong with those people, anyway?”
One of my daughters is named after Sabina Wurmbrand, from Voice of the Martyrs. And we’re Catholic ;-). Holy people are holy people.
Reading the Bible, you see that celibacy is often encouraged but never required, certainly not for the priesthood.
In the Catholic Church, where I belong, we used to have married priests, bishops, and popes. It would not bother me if we went back to that. If the Church, however, decides to maintain the celibate priesthood, I’m sure they have good reasons for it and I can live with that decision as well, although I think the number of priests will continue to decline. As a married person myself, I live in a situation as close to celibacy as you can get get without being a priest.
The lack of priests has little to do with celibacy requirements. It was never an issue years ago. I’m going to guess that the drop in priests started in the 60’s for various reasons.
If you study the history of the Catholic Church, you will see that priests, bishops, and popes were married. The celibacy requirement was put into full force in the Middle Ages. I suppose we could debate the reasons for this change in policy unendingly. However, the transmission of Church property was certainly a factor.
If you study the Bible closely, you will find many passages where celibacy is encouraged under certain circumstances, you will find no passages where it is a requirement for serving in the priesthood.
The self-proclaimed misery of married men - who thought, dangit, that marriage was the Vocation to F***, not the Vocation to Die for your Spouse - is a great reason to preserve the celibate priesthood, for those who are given that vocation by God.
That line was added partly in jest my dear. I do love my wife dearly and we do have a precious child as a result.
I can truthfully state that my intimate life has slowed dramatically since taking my vows of matrimony....but that is a good thing no doubt.
It’s almost as if you’re saying you had sex before marriage, but I’m sure I misunderstand.
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