Vatican Says Celibacy Rule Nonnegotiable

Fox News ^ | June 28, 2003

[sinkspur]

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.

[WriteOn]

>>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.

[WriteOn]

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

[sinkspur]

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?

[sinkspur]

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?

[WriteOn]

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?

[sinkspur]

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.

[WriteOn]

>>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...