Pope: Priests Must Stay Celibate

AP via Yahoo via Drudge ^ | 4-20-2002 | NICOLE WINFIELD

[Notwithstanding]

In a strong message days before a summit of U.S. churchmen on a sex abuse scandal, Pope John Paul (news - web sites) II said Saturday that priests must live celibate lives and avoid scandalous behavior. Bishops, he said, must investigate such behavior and take action to end it.

[evad]

Don't criticize what you don't understand

OK..I wasn't told before that a total understanding was a requirement for discussion...that's why I asked for "understanding" from someone who perhaps knew more.

Here's something I DO understand:
The church is infected with a number of homosexual priests who have committed vile and disgusting acts against humanity. This cannot be good for the church and I wonder how this might tie with the policy of celibacy.

IF there is something about this in Acts it would therefore be after Christ's time on earth as a man and not from Him.

[Unam Sanctam]

It's only a matter of time, niner.

And a sad day it will be for the Church if you're right. We've seen enough dumbing down and lowering of standards in the Church in the last 30 years to last another millenium at least.

[auggy]

Thanks for showing me where I am wrong. I apologize for spouting off on a subject I knew nothing about. I shall in the future be sure I know what I am talking about,before I spout off. I apologize for my ignorance.

[evad]

Talk about reading something and getting the totally wrong meaning...glad you cleared it up.

[Jim Noble]

>>better to marry than to burn (in hell presumably)<<

i always thought he was referring to lust.

[rawe]

Exactly, and that is what he did not address......"You must stay celibate" is like saying you must take out the garbage every Tuesday......He might as well have ignored the whole thing like those in command have for decades......"That Which Is Done In Darkness Will Come To Light"......It sure has here......

[Unam Sanctam]

Now is the time to rally around our Holy Father. If the Holy See is not the rock upon which the Church is built, then the Body of Christ is doomed to Protestant fraction into thousands of tiny pieces. How can you possibly find fault with a pope that upholds the ancient and holy tradition of celibacy for priests?

[BlackElk]

If you are still around, here's another hint: Do not engage in ignorant and bigoted attacks on the religions of others. It is bad manners at the very least. I know that any sort of celibacy has had a hard time in certain elite circles in Arkansas but we are, as a nation, recovering now.

[BlackElk]

Where does Scripture have Jesus Chrtist saying: "Thou art Scripture and upon this rock I shall build my Church." For a different view, see Matthew.

[Notwithstanding]

Sadly you do not rejoice in seeing that the Lord sent us a shepherd in 1978 to stymie the trendiness that we both find to be grave error. You want an instant fix that ignores reality. You shall not get it. You have contempt for the one institution - the papacy - that has consistently said "no" to the wisdom of the age. Schismatics are selfish - thinking the Church is Burger King and that you can "have it your way". Its your way or the highway. No thanks.

[BlackElk]

Sorry, I totally misread your post. You were right, of course.

[mel]

Exactly, celibacy and pedophilia are two different topics. What about the issue of the degenerates?

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

This is too funny. I praise the priesthood, admit weakness on my part, get flamed for it, but I'm the one with a problem. Okaaay....

Would it make you feel better if I lied to you about how wonderful and virtuous I am?

[BlackElk]

The gist of the passage is that a life of dedicated celibacy is a higher calling than one of marriage but it is better to marry than to burn. The second part of that may be susceptible of two perfectly valid meanings: it is better to contain the powerful force of sexual desire into the legitimate context of marriage than to engage in fornication or adultery although dedicated celibacy is a higher calling, or it is a higher calling to live a life of dedicated celibacy than to marry but far better to marry than to engage in sexual sin and risk eternal damnation. Either one works and makes Christian sense.

[Unam Sanctam]

The Pope is orthodox and a good man doing his best to steer the ark of Peter and preserve the deposit of faith whole and entire in a very difficult societal environment. He deserves our support and not our condemnation. The Pope in Ecclesia Dei encouraged the bishops to allow the Tridentine Rite for those who desire it. Please find an indult mass or work to promote reverence in the celebration of the novus ordo rite, which is possible. Why don't you work constructively to build up orthodoxy in the Church rather than trying to tear things down?

[anniegetyourgun]

I saw your praise for the priesthood AND your diss of LadyDoc. I was just wondering what you were saying by the latter.