Posted on 08/28/2014 9:21:54 AM PDT by Salvation
Featured Term (selected at random:
TRANSITIONAL DIACONATE
The temporary state of men who intend to go on for the priesthood. Before their ordination as deacons they must indicate whether they wish to enter the permanent or the transitional diaconate. They must also decide whether to marry or remain celibate. Once they are ordained deacons, they cannot marry and continue in the Church's ministry.
All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.
Catholic Word of the Day Ping!
If you aren’t on this Catholic Word of the Day Ping list and would like to be, please send me a FReepmail.
Priests and deacons should be free to marry. As the Pope himself has correctly pointed out:
1) Mandatory clerical celibacy is not a dogma etched in stone, but rather a discipline.
2) The policy is subject to change.
3) Catholic priests in Eastern Europe and the Middle East are permitted to marry.
4) The policy of compulsory clerical celibacy was not implemented until about 1,000 years after the founding of the Church.
Further, there is absolutely NOTHING in the Bible requiring such a draconian policy. Quite the contrary. Priests in the Bible were married men from Aaron on down and the Bible specifically permits married clergy.
Deacons can be married. Permanent deacons, that is.
A transitional deacon makes a vow to keep Christ number one in his life and become a priest.
I don’ think your musings about priests will happen.
Nothing in the Bible? Oh how mistaken you are. For Jesus Christ himself was not married. He as well as all priests, chose and choose to do God’s will.
Good example to follow, I think.
I know deacons can be married under certain circumstances. I think this should be allowed for all priests too, not just the ones in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
I wasn’t musing. I was stating actual facts. Facts confirmed by the current Pope.
The Bible CLEARLY permits a married clergy:
“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach.”
1 Timothy 3:2
Please let’s not make up things which aren’t there.
So you think I’m making up things about Jesus Christ?
I don’t think so.
Jesus never said priests must celibate. And He had very high praise for marriage. Performed His first miracle at a wedding feast.
Do you think I was making things up about what Pope Francis said regarding the Church’s policy of compulsory clerical celibacy?
It was NOT musing. It was all factual.
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.