Has the Time Come to Consider Making Celibacy Optional In the Western Church?

TCRNews ^ | Steven Hand

[Polycarp]

I think this is the column that we talked about previously. I just found it.

[Polycarp]

TCRNews is considered a "conservative" Catholics news site...

Pinging

[elephantlips]

"Yeah, that's the answer, celibacy. That's what caused the problem. If only the priests had been able to marry, sure, that was it." I know that most men, when they don't want to get married or can't at the time, they go after the young men, 'cause, that's only logical. If I can't have the woman I want, I'll take a young boy. All heterosexuals think that way. On second thought, I'll go to the seminary. Once I'm there I can concentrate on my relationship with God and not worry about being attracted to young men 'cause I can't get married to a woman. Gee, I hope I get a really swell roommate so we can pal around together.

[Polycarp]

I know that most men, when they don't want to get married or can't at the time, they go after the young men, 'cause, that's only logical. If I can't have the woman I want, I'll take a young boy. All heterosexuals think that way

Cathway, I'm afraid I cannot answer this. You know the author of this editorial personally.

Could you please get the author's response?

I know it appears that the author is undermining JPII's clear statements that celibacy is not at the root of the crisis, and in fact, its not even open for discussion, but I'm sure somehow we are misunderstanding the author, the self proclaimed last faithful orthodox and true defender of the Pope.

[Lazamataz]

Somebody named Mr. Hand should NOT be authoring articles about celibacy.

[LarryLied]

Last couple of days, I wish it were optional for me.

[hunter112]

Can the Church afford not to?

If the Catholic Church is to survive as an institution for more than the next generation or two, it will have to look wherever it can for clergy, and that includes those who would practice heterosexuality with fidelity, and both genders. The numbers of men signing up for the priesthood have been in severe decline for many decades now.

Surely, as families have gotten smaller, its more of a sacrifice of potential grandchildren to encourage one of your three children to enter a Catholic religious vocation, than it was for our grandparents generation (with 8 or 10 kids, you're gonna get grandchildren, for sure!) Now, the Catholic parents with boys who are potential priest material have to ask themselves if they really want to encourage that young man to go into an institution where they might very well be surrounded by gays. The current crisis has focused those parental minds on that aspect quite clearly. It will have more than a nominal effect.

[jimkress]

Celibacy is irrelevent. Homosexuality is the problem in the catholic church. Get rid of the homosexual priests and you'll eliminate 95% of the problem.

[Polycarp]

Celibacy is irrelevent. Homosexuality is the problem in the catholic church. Get rid of the homosexual priests and you'll eliminate 95% of the problem.

We are in complete agreement.

I think this author has made a grave mistake and tactical error by exposing his views on this issue. It calls into question the rest of his work. He has swung from the ultra right, across the middle, and now appears to be heading off to the left.

He does the Church a grave disservice by bringing this issue up, because it plays into the hands of the liberals/modernists and secularists. And it openly flaunts the disire of this Pope that his orthodox faithful set aside this issue while we try to heal the damage and claen these homo pederast SOB's out of our Church.

[brat]

What has that to do with child molestation and rape? Do they honestly think that letting the priests get it on with adults will stop the perversion of child molestation?

[B.R. Burton]

I do believe celibacy should be optional, however I hate to say it, because liberals would pounce on it, as if it were some Biblical commandment that could be set aside, like the sanctity of life, or prohibition of homosexuality. I believe it should be optional because the Bible never commands celibacy, and calls the rule of celibacy a doctrine of demons.

[saradippity]

Neither you nor Steven Hand actually understand what it means to dedicate your life to Christ for others.But don't feel bad,not many people can step outside of themselves and view the worlds with objectivity.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Celibacy was originally a monastic discipline.

Hand is full of fecal matter. This piece is worthy of wrapping fish in, nothing more.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

I believe it should be optional because the Bible never commands celibacy, and calls the rule of celibacy a doctrine of demons.

Bravo sierra. Jesus Christ Himself and Paul never said such a thing. Quite the contrary. Provide a scriptural reference for your claim of a doctrine of demons. By the way, all unmarried Christians are called to live lives of celibacy until and if they marry.

[Dajjal]

Actually, the time has come for the Western Church 1) to stop turning away from the seminaries good men who hear the call of a vocation, 2) to get the homosexuals out of the seminaries (both students and faculty), and 3) to realize that many good young men will consider the priesthood if you just _ask_ them.

But the time has also come for the Western Church to divest itself of its bad bishops and replace them with good men -- or, if that's too hard, then randomly chosen men (the ethical average could only improve).

[Dajjal]

Here's a new link for that April 29 BBC News Item that you posted on the other thread.

"When asked whether the Church was considering changing its rules, Cardinal Arns said that with Pope John Paul II that would be impossible. He said the Pope had made his views well known and had even prohibited discussion of the issue."

[maryz]

I would have thought the situation was that too many priests have already made it optional!

[BunnySlippers]

Celibacy was always designed to be a "sacrifice" ... not easy. It was never supposed to be easy but rather an offering to God.

[Domestic Church]

"Now, the Catholic parents with boys who are potential priest material have to ask themselves if they really want to encourage that young man to go into an institution where they might very well be surrounded by gays. The current crisis has focused those parental minds on that aspect quite clearly. It will have more than a nominal effect."

And if we don't pull the future priests from these families then the Church in this country will continue on the lavender path until it is no more than a shell.

Over the decades that discussion of celibacy in the priesthood has been topical I have wondered to myself that perhaps in the final centuries it would come full circle around to a married clergy in an underground Church under persecution. Thank God we have the Eucharist now...who knows where the road ahead will lead us.