Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Pope Francis suggests he’ll review Catholic Church’s vow of celibacy for priests
Nypost.com ^ | 03/27/2023 | Ronny Reyes

Posted on 03/27/2023 7:57:09 AM PDT by massmike

Pope Francis has hinted that he would review the Roman Catholic Church’s rule of priestly celibacy, describing it as an individual “discipline” rather than a “contradiction” to the church.

“There is no contradiction for a priest to marry. Celibacy in the western Church is a temporary prescription,” Francis, 86, remarked. “It is not eternal like priestly ordination, which is forever, whether you like it or not. Whether you leave or not is another matter, but it is forever. On the other hand, celibacy is a discipline.”

Celibacy was made a requirement in the Catholic Church around the 11th century, following centuries of tradition for priests to embrace the practice along with vows of abstinence.

Most recently, Germany’s Catholic Church voted to formally send a request to the Pope to end the requirement, and it appears as though Francis might agree.

Citing the Eastern Rite Catholic Church, which gives more leeway to its priests, Francis said: “Everyone in the Eastern Church is married, or those who want to. Before ordination there is the choice to marry or to be celibate.”

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events
KEYWORDS: celibacy
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-44 last
To: Old Yeller
The priests were mediators between the people and God. The priests offered sacrifices to God on behalf of the people. That is no longer necessary.

Really? Then why does Hebrews 13:10 say "We have an altar from which those who serve the [Jewish] tabernacle have no right to eat" [NASB]?

An altar is a table for sacrifice, by definition. Clearly the sacrifice is something we Christians eat. Evangelicals and fundamentalists have to explain this away as figurative language, where "altar" means "cross" and "eat" means "believe in". It isn't figurative at all. It's absolutely literal.

Jesus Christ is ... the only mediator between us and God (1 Timothy 2:5).

Except that 1 Tm 2:5 doesn't actually say that in the inspired Greek text, and that interpretation is completely at odds with 1 Tm 2:1-4, which commands intercessory prayer (a form of mediation) by all Christians on behalf of everyone. The Greek has a word for "one and exactly one", monos, which is not the word translated "one" in 1 Tm 2:5. Look it up.

The New Testament teaches that there are to be elders (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9), deacons (1 Timothy 3:8-13), and pastors (Ephesians 4:11) – but not priests.

The Greek word for "elder", presbyter, is where we get the English word "priest". "Elder" and "priest" are the same office. And you forgot about overseers (1 Tm 3:1-7). The Greek word for "overseer," episkopos, is where we get words like "bishop" and "episcopal" and "episcopacy".

You should worry less about our "meaningless" traditions, and more about your shallow and sloppy exegesis.

41 posted on 03/29/2023 8:34:45 PM PDT by Campion (Everything is a grace, everything is the direct effect of our Father's love - Little Flower)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: MountainWalker
I don’t totally disagree, but is a homosexual a homosexual if he doesn’t act on his urges?

Yes. He's a chaste homosexual, but still a homosexual. If I made the decisions (I don't), I would not ordain such men.

But if one slipped through, I would also not remove him from the priesthood if he remained chaste. (But, as I say, I would not want to see him elevated to bishop either.)

42 posted on 03/29/2023 8:36:59 PM PDT by Campion (Everything is a grace, everything is the direct effect of our Father's love - Little Flower)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: Old Yeller
Old Yeller Priests are so Old Testament.

Have you ever read the New Testament books?

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

furthermore the English word priest is derived from priester (Old English) which derives from Lative Presbyter (Elder)

And this is IN the bible

The English word “priest” is derived from the Greek word presbuteros, which is commonly rendered into Bible English as “elder” or “presbyter.” The ministry of Catholic priests is that of the presbyters mentioned in the New Testament (Acts 15:6, 23). The Bible says little about the duties of presbyters, but it does reveal they functioned in a priestly capacity.

They were ordained by the laying on of hands (1 Tm 4:14, 5:22), they preached and taught the flock (1 Tm 5:17), and they administered sacraments (Jas 5:13-15). These are the essential functions of the priestly office, so wherever the various forms of presbuteros appear–except, of course, in instances which pertain to the Jewish elders (Mt 21:23, Acts 4:23)–the word may rightly be translated as “priest” instead of “elder” or “presbyter.”

In Acts 20:17-38 the same men are called presbyteroi (v. 17) and episcopoi (v. 28). Presbuteroi is used in a technical sense to identify their office of ordained leadership. Episcopoi is used in a non-technical sense to describe the type of ministry they exercised. This is how the Revised Standard Version renders the verses: “And from Miletus he [Paul] . . . called for the elders [presbuteroi]of the church. And when they came to him, he said to them . . . ‘Take heed to yourselves and all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you guardians [episcopoi], to feed the church of the Lord.'”

43 posted on 07/09/2024 1:11:13 AM PDT by Cronos (I identify as an ambulance, my pronounces are wee/woo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Cronos
***Pope Francis suggests he’ll review Catholic Church’s vow of celibacy for priests***

Have you got the clap, Frank❓

44 posted on 07/09/2024 2:26:53 AM PDT by Bob Ireland (The Democrap Party is the enemy of freedom.They use all the seductions and deceits of the Bolshevics)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-44 last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson