Vatican Says Celibacy Rule Nonnegotiable

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican reaffirmed celibacy for priests Saturday, rejecting arguments that the Roman Catholic Church (search) could resolve the "crisis" of decreasing numbers of clergy by opening the priesthood to married men.

Instead, the Vatican (search) said, current priests should dedicate themselves to attracting more candidates by better explaining the priesthood to lay Catholics and encouraging families and children to consider religious vocations.

The reaffirmation was contained in a wide-ranging document issued Saturday as the final conclusions to a meeting, or synod, of European bishops held in 1999. Pope John Paul (search) II held back on issuing the final document until now, because he wanted the timing to be right in Europe, Vatican officials said Saturday.

In fact, one of the major thrusts of the document is a reiteration of Christianity's heritage in Europe, and an exhortation by the pope that European leaders drafting the first EU constitution make reference to the role Christianity has played in shaping the continent.

Earlier this month, EU negotiators finalized a draft of the constitution that made no reference to God or Christianity, despite lobbying from the Vatican. Opponents argued such a reference could undermine the secular nature of the bloc.

Italy, which takes over the EU presidency starting Tuesday, has said it plans to reopen the debate over including the reference when governments begin a final review of the text in October.

"This is a constitution that does not yet exist," Cardinal Jan Schotte, head of the synod, told a press conference launching the document. "For me, nothing is definite."

Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Birmingham, England, a secretary of the synod, said omitting a mention of Christianity was "unworthy" of the constitution's authors because "no presentation of Europe can be honest if it fails to recognize the part already played, and still played, by Christianity in the shaping of Europe."

The document touched on a host of other issues, including a call for Europe to be more welcoming to immigrants, for the Catholic Church in Europe to engage in a "profound and perceptive" dialogue with Islam and Judaism, and for the "full participation" of women in the life of the church.

Schotte said that didn't mean women could at present be heads of Vatican congregations, since that would require they be ordained. The Vatican reserves the priesthood for men.

The document acknowledged there were fewer and fewer men signing up for the priesthood, but said removing the celibacy requirement wasn't the answer.

"A revision of the present discipline in this regard would not help to resolve the crisis of vocations to the priesthood being felt in many parts of Europe," the document said. "A commitment to the service of the Gospel of hope also demands that the Church make every effort to propose celibacy in its full biblical, theological and spiritual richness."

There has been a steep decline in the ratio of Catholics to priests worldwide over the past 20 years. In 1978, there were 1,797 Catholics for every priest. In 2001, the number was 2,619, according to Vatican statistics cited by Catholic News Service.

As to disparaging stinky, he deserves it for preaching the benefits of a married priesthood in spite of the Pope.

When the Pope defines mandatory celibacy as a doctrine of the Church, then I'll stop talking about it.

>>The Pope writes against allowing married Catholic men to >>be priests, but allows married Protestant converts to >>jump the fence and be ordained.

A greater spiritual good is served.

This is not inconsistent with Eastern Catholicism which you have cite as an example of a married priesthood. A married Eastern rite priest could become a Latin rite priest, as well I believe. There is nothing inconsistent with this practice.

The Latin rite is only exceptional in not letting a married man become a priest. All rites don't let a priest marry.

If it made a difference (admitting married to priesthood,) the Eastern rite wouldn't be hurting for vocations, too.

The Latin rite is only exceptional in not letting a married man become a priest.

The Latin Rite is the only rite that will not allow a married member of its own rite become a priest, but will allow married men from other Rites and married Protestant converts become priests.

Could you tell me what, in your opinion, is the "greater spiritual good" served in this inequity?

If it made a difference (admitting married to priesthood,) the Eastern rite wouldn't be hurting for vocations, too.

Has the Eastern Rite grown in numbers at the same rate as the Latin Rite?

The greater spiritual good is the return of a separated brother to the Catholic church and ostensibly the Latin rite's getting a new, experienced priest.

You can't seem to get past your perception of "inequity." Are you really a deacon and is bothering you that you can't become a priest?

You can't seem to get past your perception of "inequity."

There's no good way to explain what is an inequity to people who ask. We had a married Episcopalian convert at my parish for three years, and the average Catholic couldn't understand why married Catholic men couldn't be admitted as well.

Thanks for the explanation, but it's still a lame explanation.

>>We had a married Episcopalian convert at my parish for three years, and the average Catholic couldn't understand why married Catholic men couldn't be admitted as well.

I could see that being a problem. Though I'd probably go the other way: not wanting married priests at all...

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.