Posted on 01/26/2005 8:45:26 AM PST by tvn
TONY EASTLEY: With their numbers in radical decline, Australia's Catholic Priests are urging the Vatican to overturn its ban on married clergy. The National Council of Priests has written to Rome urging it to re-consider the rules on celibacy. There's concern that sex and marriage have become an obstacle to recruitment.
Priests argue that their dwindling ranks could be boosted if they were allowed to marry and have families. Presently, only Priests who convert to Catholicism from other churches are allowed to be married.
The parish priest of Melbourne St Simon's Church, Father Martin Dixon, sits on the executive committee of the National Council of Priests.
AM's Nick Grimm spoke to Father Dixon.
MARTIN DIXON: Well, I think the issue of married Priests can be an issue that should be looked at and can be looked at. Marriage is not a bar to Priesthood, there are a large number of married men who are Priests in Australia already.
Melbourne has two of them here already, so it is happening, and I suppose we're saying, why just restrict it to particularly men who are Anglican Priests who have now become Catholics? It should be open to all men.
NICK GRIMM: The vow of celibacy has long been one of the defining features of the Catholic Priesthood though, hasn't it?
MARTIN DIXON: It has been, but it hasn't been for the whole history of the church. Half the history of the church has been married clergy, and the clergy in the beginning were married. Peter had his wife the first Apostle. So, it's never been a restrictor for a long time within the church.
NICK GRIMM: So you would argue that this is a tradition which shouldn't be considered a sacred tradition?
MARTIN DIXON: No, I think it's one of the traditions we have to look at in the light of the present situation of the world we live in. It's not an unchangeable thing. The practice has been shown now that we can ordain married men. It therefore is not unchangeable.
NICK GRIMM: It is argued at times, isn't it, that there's a view that Priests can't really minister effectively if they live a life which is still quite remote from the everyday experience of many people?
MARTIN DIXON: If you live in the Parish and you're working among the people, you're not remote. You know the feelings, you know the pains, and you know the joys of it. You don't have to be married to know what it's like.
TONY EASTLEY: The parish priest of Melbourne St Simon's Church, Father Martin Dixon, speaking with AM's Nick Grimm.
Okay, why don't you demonstrate how, according to ecclesiastical law prevailing at the time, there could be more than one pope?
1. In most cases, those formerly protestant and married pastors who are now Catholic priests do not have pastoral care of a parish; in many cases, they are given other responsibilities more in keeping with a 8-or 10-hour day, in respect to their family life. So the argument from THIS kind of married priest really does not apply to the type of work that 90% of diocesan priests do: work in a parish.
2. It is a common fallacy to say that a married priest would offer more effective counseling than a celebate priest. In fact, I do not know one priest (and I know many dozens) who offer THAT kind of counseling. For marriage counseling, a priest would recommend--get this--a professional marriage counselor. By contrast, a priest will talk with the couple, together or separately, and lead them to a deeper prayer life, or a deeper understanding of God's will for their lives, etc. They would receive spiritual counseling.
3. It is a fact, maybe a sad fact, that a married clergy will place enormous strain on the finances of a parish and the ability of a parish to carry out its panaply of sacramental liturgies. Right now, a celebate priest earns about 14,000 dollars american per year. The just wage for a married priest would have to be triple that.
Much as I hate to say it, many seminaries and rectories resemble Fire Island in the summer, or Key West in the winter.
No man is perfect but Christ.
Who cares what you want?
When does Jesus suggest celibacy?
The Greek Orthodox church has had married priests since before the schism (1061 AD I believe) I don't see the permitting a Married man from becoming a priest as a danger to the catholic church.
I do agree with you about the leftist bishops trying to groupthink change into existence.
His disciples say unto him: If the case of a man with his wife be so, it is not expedient to marry.
Who said to them: All men take not this word, but they to whom it is given.
For there are eunuchs, who were born so from their mothers womb: and there are eunuchs, who were made so by men: and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take it. (Matthew 19:10-12)
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!! Funny post!!!! I didnt know that Rome was in the Backwoods!!!
Well, then, who cares about your opinion?
Tell me, do you even know what an indulgence is? If you really were Catholic, then you sure never even learned anything. The Pope cannot err in matters of faith and morals. Fact is, you cannot form a clear arguement using facts, like gbj., but can only use insults to try to prove your point.
Some additional FR threads to pepruse:
Pope Defends Clergy Celibacy Order
Has the Time Come to Consider Making Celibacy Truly Optional In the Western Church?
Catholic Scandals: A Crisis for Celibacy?
Celibacy of the priesthood is a church strength, not a liability
Celibacy s history of power and money
Pope: Priests Must Stay Celibate
Giving Thanks for the Good Shepherds ( A Defense of Priestly Celibacy)
Don't end celibacy for priests
Priestly Celibacy And Its Roots In Christ
How to Refute Arguments Against Priestly Celibacy
Priestly Celibacy Reflects Who - and Whose - We Are[Father George W.Rutler]
Tracing the Glorious Origins of Celibacy
Gods call to celibacy for the sake of His Kingdom - by Card. George
Vatican Says Celibacy Rule Nonnegotiable
Bishop Attacks Move to End Celibacy
A response to Fr. Joseph Wilson's defense of mandatory celibacy
The gift of Priestly celibacy as a sign of the charity of Christ, by Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Archbishop Dolan:"We Need to Be Renewing Our Pledge to Celibacy, Not Questioning It"
Celibacy is gift cherished by church
Celibacy Will Save the Priesthood
Celibacy Defended by EWTN's Fr. Levis
The (Catholic) Church Has Always Prospered When Celibacy Is Honored
John Paul II Hails "Inestimable Value" of Priestly Celibacy
For Priests, Celibacy Is Not the Problem
Fr. Shannon Collins Discusses Celibacy
5 Arguments Against (Catholic) Priestly Celibacy and How to Refute Them
Why A Married Priesthood Won't Remedy the Priest Shortage
New Vatican Document on Homosexuality and the Priesthood Coming Before Fall 2005
I don't want to hear your life's story.
Quite a hyperbole, wouldn't you say? As if I had really given my life's story...LOL. So take a hike.
Catholic Bigots please "minister" somewhere else!
Buh-Bye!
There are a lot of people on this thread expressing concerns about Catholic doctrine.
Argue on the facts. Don't just cast insults and scream "bigot".
you are not expressing concerns. You are frequently insulting. e.g. "Get a Life". You have presented no facts, and have only called thing preposterous. your lack of knowledge concerning Catholic belief is laughable (e.g. the limits of Papal infallibility to faith and morals)
I have a life thank you very much.
Just as the Conservatives are called every name in the the book when we fight back against Lib bigots, the Catholics are sick of being fair game.
Why is it you do not minister on the Jewish threads?
Are they not worth saving from their traditions???
There is no sense in arguing the facts with someone who has locked his mind shut.
also, gbcdoj has presented evidence to refute your claim that there were 3 legitimate Popes at the same time.
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