Pope Francis greets journalists aboard the flight from Tel Aviv to Rome May 26. At right is Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican press spokesman. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Posted on 05/28/2014 11:49:45 AM PDT by NYer
Vatican City, 27 May 2014 (VIS) – At the end of his trip, during the flight from Tel Aviv to Rome, Pope Francis spoke for over 40 minutes with the journalists who accompanied him on the flight, answering their questions on various issues linked not only to his pilgrimage to the Holy Land, but also in relation to the abuse of minors, remarried divorcees, his upcoming trips, priestly celibacy, and so on. Below is a summary of some of the Pope's answers.
The Holy Land and the prayer meeting in the Vatican with Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas.
The most authentic gestures are those that we don't think about, those that come to us, aren't they? I thought about suggesting it during the trip, but there were many logistical problems, because each one has to consider the territory, and it's not easy. So I thought about a meeting, and at the end, I came up with this invitation. It will be an encounter to pray, not for the purposes of mediation. We will pray with the two presidents; prayer is important, it helps. Afterwards, each person will return home. There would be a rabbi, a Muslim, and myself.
Abuse of minors
At the moment there are three bishops under investigations: one has already been found guilty and we are now considering the penalty to be imposed. There are no privileges. … A priest who does this betrays the Body of the Lord, because this priest must lead this child, this boy, this girl, to sanctity, and this boy or girl trusts in him; and instead of leading them to sanctity he abuses them. This is very serious. It is like, by way of comparison, holding a black Mass. You are supposed to lead them to sanctity and instead you lead them to a problem that will last their entire lives. In a few days' time there will be a Mass at the Domus Sanctae Marthae with some survivors of abuse, and then a meeting with them. … But we must move forward on this issue, with zero tolerance!
Contradiction between the poor and austere Church and the financial scandals within
The Gospel tells us that Lord Jesus once said to His disciples that it is inevitable that there will be scandals, because we are human and we are sinners. And there will be scandals. The key is trying to avoid that there are more of them! Economic administration calls for honesty and transparency. The two Commissions, the one which has studied the IOR and the Commission that has studied the Vatican as whole, have reached their conclusions, and now the ministry, the Secretariat for the economy directed by Cardinal Pell, will carry out the reforms that the two Commissions have advised. … For instance, in the IOR I think that around 1,600 accounts have been closed, belonging to people who were not entitled to hold an account at the IOR. The IOR exists to help the Church, and accounts can be held by bishops, Vatican employees, and their widows or widowers, to draw their pensions. … But other private individuals are not entitled to accounts. It is not open to all.
European elections
There is a key word: unemployment. This is a serious matter. It is serious because I look at it this way, simplifying somewhat. We are in a global economic system which places money at its centre, not the human person. A true economic system should revolve around men and women, the human person. This economic system we have today places money at the centre and to maintain its equilibrium, it has to carry out various “waste” measures. Children are discarded, as the low birth rates in Europe show, and the elderly are abandoned.
Stable and lasting peace in Jerusalem
The Catholic Church has established its position from a religious point of view: it will be the city of peace for the three religions. The concrete measures for peace must come from negotiations. I agree that from the negotiations perhaps it will emerge that it will be the capital of one State or another, it would be madness on my part. But these are hypotheses, and I do not consider myself competent to say that we should do one thing or another. I believe that it is necessary to negotiate with honesty, fraternity and great trust in the path of negotiation. It takes courage to do this, and I pray that these two leaders, these two governments will have the courage to take this path. It is the only route to peace.
Priestly celibacy
The Catholic Church has married priests – Greek Catholics, Coptic Catholics, those of oriental rites. Celibacy is not a question of dogma, but rather a rule of life that I greatly appreciate, as I believe it is a gift for the Church. But, since it is not a dogma of faith, the door is always open.
Relations with the Orthodox Churches
Patriarch Bartholomew and I spoke about the unity we create as we walk together. Unity cannot be created in a congress on theology. He confirmed that Athenagoras said to Paul VI: “We go ahead together, calmly, and put all the theologians together on an island where they can discuss among themselves, and we walk ahead in life!”. There are many things we can do to help each other. For instance, with the Churches. In Rome, as in many cities, many Orthodox go to Catholic churches. Another thing we mentioned, that may be considered in the pan-orthodox Council, is the date of Easter, because it is somewhat ridiculous to say, “When is your Christ resurrected? Mine was resurrected last week”. Yes, the date of Easter is a sign of unity. … We also spoke a lot on the problems of ecology, and the need to work together on this issue.
Forthcoming trips and the problems faced by Christians in Asia
With regard to Asia, two trips are planned: the one to South Korea, for the meeting of young Asians, and then, next January, a two-day trip to Sri Lanka and then on to the Philippines, to the area affected by the typhoon. The problem of the lack of freedom of worship affects not only certain Asian countries, but also other countries in the world. Religious freedom is something that not all countries have. Some have a certain level of control … others adopt measures that lead to a real persecution of believers. There are martyrs! There are martyrs in our times, Christian martyrs, both Catholic and non-Catholic. There are places where it is forbidden to wear a crucifix or to possess a Bible; where it is forbidden to teach the catechism to children.
Abdication from the pontificate in the case of failing strength and the issue of Popes emeritus
I will do what the Lord tells me to do: pray, and seek God's will. But I think that Benedict XVI is not a unique case. It happened because he no longer had the strength and in an honest way – he is a man of faith, and humble – he took this decision. Seventy years ago bishops emeritus barely existed, whereas now there are many. What will happen to Popes emeritus? I think that we must look to him as an institution. He has opened a door, the door of Popes emeritus. Will there be others? Only God knows. But this door is open, and I think that a bishop of Rome, a Pope who feels that his strength is declining – because we live much longer now – must ask himself the same questions that Pope Benedict faced.
Beatification of Pius XII
The cause for Pius XII is open. However, there has been no miracle, and if there are no miracles it is not yet possible to go ahead.
Synod on the family and remarried divorcees
The Synod in October will be on the family and the problems it faces; its riches and its current situation. I do not like the fact that many people, even within the Church, have said that it will be the Synod about remarried divorcees, as if it could simply be reduced to a case study: can they receive communion or not? The issue is much broader. Today, as we all know, the family is in crisis, and it is a global crisis. Young people no longer want to get married, or prefer simply to live together; marriage is in crisis, and therefore the family is too. The problem of family pastoral care is very broad. Pope Benedict said something about the family three times: it is necessary to study the faith with which a person approaches marriage and clarify that divorcees are not excommunicated, and very often they are treated as if they are.
Reform of the Roman Curia
The council of eight cardinals is studying the constitution “Pastor bonus” and the Roman Curia. It has consulted many people and with the Curia and is still studying certain issues, such as bringing together various dicasteries to streamline organisation. One of the key points is the economy, and it is therefore necessary to work in collaboration with the secretary of State. … The obstacles are those one encounters in any process of this type. Planning the approach, the work of persuasion is very important. There are some people who do not see this clearly, but any reform involves these things. But I am content, in truth.
And subscribing to such absurd optimism as a "New Springtime" and a "New Pentecost" and "atheists can go to Heaven" and "prosleytism is solemn nonsense" in the current Devastation in the Vineyard seems to be the purview of novus ordo catholics.
Attending traditionalist masses also excludes participants from the reality of life around them.
So 1500 years of Catholics, including popes, were excluded from the reality of life around them, until some bugger named Bugnini opened the eyes of contemporary catholics to "reality"?
Says one who has himself benefited from an annulment.
Would you please clarify that statement before I pop a blood vessel?
You missed the point. At a TLM, What is the percentage of divorced/remarried or divorced/living with girlfriend catholics that comprise the congregation? Assuming, of course, that you can identify them.
There is no such thing as mandatory clerical celibacy.
In the Roman Church, priests are chosen from among those who have chosen celibacy.
Ever since the 60’s, people have been criticizing the orthodox for not having the sunny disposition of the dissenters. You know, Charlie Curran is such a pleasant, fun guy, compared with Fr. Gommar Depauw!
There’s a very simple reason for this: Ever since the 60’s, the dissenters have been winning, again and again and again...
Look how hysterical and bitter the dissenters were during the pontificate of BXVI!
The policy was instituted in after the Middle Ages largely as a response to rampant corruption in the Church, primarily nepotism and simony. I question whether it is still necessary. Many Catholic priests are already married. And they do just fine. Mandatory celibacy should not be a requirement for service in the priesthood. They should be free to marry if they want.
Of course many do not keep that vow.
I found out several years ago that the priest who married my wife and I was forced to leave the priesthood. His huge crime: He fell in a love with a woman.
So sad, he truly loved the Church and serving as a priest.
Holy matrimony and holy orders need not be mutually exclusive.
It’s not that simple... and the problem can be seen by changing just a few words in the example:
“I found out several years ago that the marriage counselor who helped my wife and I was forced to leave the profession. His huge crime: He fell in a love with another woman.”
A priest—who has taken the Church as his Bride—has no more business “falling in love” with another woman than I do (I’m married to a lovely woman, myself). He has a grave moral obligation to guard his heart; and those who were charged with his priestly formation had the grave responsibility of training him in ways to guard his heart thusly.
Jesus Himself encouraged celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom (cf. Matthew 19:10-12). St. Paul said that celibacy was the preferred state for those who minister (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:1-7). St Paul goes so far as to say the following:
“I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord; but the married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided.” (1 Cor 7:32-34)
There’s often a sort of sentimental “offense on someone else’s behalf” in cases like this—akin to the idea of “Well... I’m free to have sex and intimate companionship with my spouse, and it doesn’t seem right to deprive someone else of that, so let’s get rid of the celibacy requirement for Latin Catholic priests!” That’s soft-hearted... but it’s short-sighted, too. Priests who are married have a divide in their lives which others don’t have with secular careers—or even with Protestant ministries. There are decisions which no man should be forced to make (e.g. if your 5-year-old daughter is dying across town, and a fallen-away parishioner is dying in front of you, do you give the last Sacraments to the dying man/woman who may be in a state of mortal sin, or do you leave him/her in order to be at the bedside of your daughter?). Should he abandon a soul to a serious risk of damnation, simply out of a desire to be at the deathbed of a daughter who’s in a state of grace?
Moreover, some of the strongest advocates for the celibacy requirement are *married priests!* They, of all people, have lived with the state of being torn in contrary directions—short-changing their wives and families in order to dispense the Sacraments, etc. Fr. Dwight Longnecker (a married Anglican priest who converted to the Catholic Church) comes to mind, in that regard.
We have a Pope who pointedly references Orthodox practices, reacts positively to Kasper's heretical theology, allows Kasper to speak in his name, makes a cold call to a woman living in adultery and gives her the green light, and staffs his inner circle with like minds who have also been very busy spouting off to the media. To assume none of this is relevant to the potential outcome of the synod is to bury one's head in the sand.
Attending traditionalist masses also excludes participants from the reality of life around them.
Seriously? How, pray tell, does the Holy Mass one attends have any bearing on one's awareness of "the reality of life around them"? Intentional or not, your post comes off as a gratuitous and stereotypical attack on traditional Catholics. It implies that we've constructed our own reality, and are out of touch with the big picture. Nothing could be further from the truth. Personally, I don't know any Catholics whose families have been spared the effects of the post-VII moral collapse. I have seen the destructive effects of divorces (and easy annulments) on my nieces and nephews. Any change in praxis which further undermines the Sacrament will lead to an increase in broken homes.
Most catholic pastors are confronted with these blended catholic families and look to the Holy See for some guidelines on how to deal with these "real world" issues.
If that were the only focus, why the full court press by the Pope and his hand-picked acolytes to promote the idea that "changes" must be made, and that 50% of marriages are not valid (by their criteria, I would have to include mine, although I didn't know it until I heard what Cardinal Kasper had to say :-0!). I think people ought to be forgiven for taking these prelates at their word rather than spinning a Pollyanna interpretation of their widely publicized comments, which taken together appear to telegraph a very definite agenda).
The catholics who attend the TLM, are those who understand and choose to practice the tenets of their faith. It is commensurate on them and us to pray for their brothers and sisters in the faith, who have lost their way. More importantly, your prayers are needed for the pope and the upcoming synod.
Ironically, though the Pope has publically mocked traditional Catholics, and in the case of the FFI, is brutally persecuting them, traditional Catholics are, as a group, the ones most likely to pray regularly and fervently for him and his intentions.
Yes, but I can find a million passages in the Bible where Holy Matrimony is also glorified. Jesus in particular strongly supported the institution of marriage. He performed his first miracle at a wedding ceremony. No where does Jesus say that you must be celibate and single to be a priest. Neither does Paul. In fact the priesthood is hardly mentioned in the New Testament. The priesthood is mentioned in the Old Testament extensively and yes priests were married and had children. Mandatory clerical celibacy is even relatively new the Catholic Church. For the first 1,000 years of Church history, the overwhelming majority of priests and bishops were married men. Orthodox priests in the East are permitted to marry. Catholic priests in Greece, the Ukraine, and the Middle East are permitted marry. Celibacy in Third World regions such as Africa is often ignored by the local clergy. Here in the US the number of priests continue to decline as the number of deacons continues too increase (deacons are permitted to be married). It is only a matter of time before priests in the West will be permitted to marry. Even the current Pope has indicated this policy is subject to change if you read the above article.
“Moreover, some of the strongest advocates for the celibacy requirement are *married priests!”
I have yet to see a married Catholic priest say he thinks the discipline of celibacy is bad for the Church today and should be suspended. In fact, I can only recall praise of the discipline coming from them. I think that is because the ones that care enough to bother to become ordained married Catholic priests in the first place are already very conservative, at least that I have observed.
On the other hand, try finding a single person of any faith that accepts abortion, ‘gay marriage,’ and priestesses who also thinks the latin Catholic discipline of celibacy is valuable and should be continued. They invariably not only don’t like it but actually hate it.
FReegards
I just finished reading Corinthians 7:1-7
Paul has NO issues with marriage. He does condemn sexual activity outside of marriage. No mention of priests here. Little is known of Paul’s personal family. Most Biblical scholars believe Paul was married at one time and now is either widowed or divorced (perhaps his wife did not share in his conversion). At any rate, at the time Paul wrote this letter, he is an older man. He has decided for himself that he does not want to get remarried as he is near death. Paul is in 60s when he writes most of his letters, far beyond the average life expectancy of the typical person living at that time. Paul also believes Jesus is returning very soon. So this the context in which the passage should be read.
Actions speak louder than words. Jesus is the High Priest and He did not marry. Priests are an alter Christus (other Christ) and can give their entire existence to the priesthood in imitation of Christ.
Orthodox priests in the East are permitted to marry.
No they aren't. They must marry before ordination. Once ordained, no priest can marry.
I don’t think priests are even mentioned in the Bible. Jesus was a messenger, teacher, example, savior, son of God and God but I don’t recall mention of Priest.
Then why not allow married men in the Catholic Church apply for ordination as it is done in the Greek Catholic Church, the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Middle Eastern Catholic churches, and Orthodox churches?
Once again there is NOTHING absolutely NOTHING in the Bible requiring priests to be celibate. Not in the Old Testament, not in the Gospels. In point of fact, priests were married men in the Bible from Aaron on down.
I am simply saying that holy matrimony is an equally acceptable state for a priest as being single and celibate.
We have a number of married priests in our archdiocese and they are just as good, just as holy as the single celibate priests. A married priesthood is in the tradition of the early Church. Required clerical celibacy did not become institutionalized until after the Middle Ages.
Even the Pope recognizes the current celibacy requirement is not dogma etched into stone and that the policy is subject to change.
If you read Paul carefully in all of these passages, yes you hear him saying he has chosen to remain chaste for the remainder of his life. He says this is best for him at this stage in his life. He is in his sixties when he wrote most of his letters which was quite old for that time in history-—considering life expectancy at that time was about 40. No one in their right mind would insist a young 20 or 30 year old would refrain from marriage in order to the join the priesthood. Paul is simply saying that is saying that he is very old and being single is best for him at this point in his life. He has no issues with the married state. You are reading into the Bible rather than reading it the way it is written. Paul never insists that anyone adopt celibacy unless they choose to. Because of his advanced age, it is no surprise that he prefers that for himself.
An interesting aside. I have noticed in my own archdiocese that the age of seminarians entering into the priesthood is significantly older than it was a number of years ago. For those interested in keeping the celibacy requirement, this could be seen as a positive trend. At least many if not most of the new recruits are older men, presumably sexually mature, most have been around the block a few times, are subject to a full battery of psychological examinations, and know full well what is expected of them.
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.