You are right in what you say, of course, celibacy is a discipline and not dogma.
And there are pros and cons to both sides of celibacy. But it has served the Latin Church well... I think of Padre Pio and wonder if he could have lived the life he did while married and raising a family.
The thing is, it seems that *most* supporters of a married clergy also support a female clergy as well. Plus a more democratic form of Catholic Church. So usually, all of these issues are intertwined to some degree. And it's kind of like the Texas sodomy case of last week... knock down one thing and then another and where does it stop? I also believe the reason celibacy has evolved the way it has is that Jesus Christ is indeed at the helm. But it is doctrine and not dogma because we have had some holy and pious married converts over the years who have made the leap from minister to priest - the doctrine of celibacy permits that. Celibacy as a dogma would not.
The celibate priest who is the head of my parish is always asking for money for this and that, as is each and every priest and bishop. Right now our regular parish account stands at $750.00 after all the bills for the month have been paid. Thank God the priest doesn't need money for dancing lessons, piano lessons, groceries for a family, an addition for all the kids, lunch money, and money to clothe a family. And I left out all the small sundry expenses we all have when we have kids and a wife.
I dunno. Did you feel that all the precepts of the Church would come tumbling down when Paul VI suddenly decreed that we wouldn't be doing time in hell for eating meat on Friday?
? I also believe the reason celibacy has evolved the way it has is that Jesus Christ is indeed at the helm.
Well, where's He been for the last 30 years, when priests have been bailing out of the priesthood to marry while the seminaries have filled with homosexuals?
I agree with you. I think Christ is at the helm, and I think He intends to preserve celibacy for those who are called to it.
There are pros and cons to celibacy, like everything else, but the biggest con is the very real probability that some American Catholics who've become accustomed to attending Mass weekly will now have to settle for attending Mass monthly. I don't think that's a good thing, especially when these Protestant converts are PROVING that married men can serve the Church well as priests. And Catholics who are served by these men really don't understand why Catholic married men can't serve just as well as these guys.
There's no logical explanation as to why they can't, because, in fact, they can, but John Paul II doesn't want to be the Pope who compromises on celibacy.
Instead, the Vatican is reduced to exhorting priests to talk about the benefits of celibacy as a way of attracting young men to priesthood, when young Catholic men see the priesthood as a haven for homosexuals.
What young man with his life ahead of him would want to be a part of that?
From what I have read of the lives of some of the Russian mystic priest saints, I think he probably could have. Although Padre Pio was pure, a little earthly purgatory can help anyone on their way to sanctity ;-)