Good one. Never thought about that.
Excellent article!
Thanks for posting this one!
While the Eastern Catholic Churches allow for married priests, they must make this decision before their ordination. Like their counterparts in the Western Church, once married they may not re-marry, should their spouse die, nor may they be elevated to bishop. In the Maronite Church, they may not leave Lebanon. The Lebanese born priest who serves our NY parish, is descended from a married priest. This pastor chose celibacy before ordination and will remain so.
He brings to the parish a dirth of linguistic and theological gifts. He speaks 8 languages fluently, has a working knowledge of 3 others, and reads Latin, Aramaic, Hebrew and Koine Greek. Like a father, he alone distributes communion to the parishioners, the homebound and the hospitalized. He asks for parish participation but returns the gifts through grateful acknowledgement.
He also delivers powerful homilies based on Scripture. In the Maronite Church, when the priest has finished reading the Gospel, he elevates the Book and proclaims "This is the Truth" and then blesses the congregation with the Book of the Gospels. This past Sunday's Gospel was on The Leper. Father pointed out that leprosy has, for the most part, disappeared from this world with the exception of certain pockets in India. He explained leprosy as a disease that eats from the outside, in. He took it from there, explaining modern day leprosy, 'sin', which eats from the inside, out. What a marvelous analogy!
This past Sunday, he sponsored a dinner for the parishioners and supporters of the parish. He is a priest in the true sense of the word.
Would that all of you would seek out a Maronite priest to minister to their spiritual needs!
"They say celibacy is foreign to their culture and that priests should be able to marry."
It was probably foreign to the pagan cultures of Europe, too.
Rome has said no such thing. All five of the married Anglican converts in our diocese are pastors. One is pastor of the largest parish in the diocese, and has a celibate associate and two permanent deacons.
Yes. I would agree with the author. We should talk to those who are married and are serving as Catholic priests. Some are in favor, others are not. Just like the celibate priests.
BTTT!
Thanks for this! It's usually those that throw a dollar into the collection basket and think that priests are rolling in money, who say that they think priests should marry. Who is going to pay for housing, groceries, family medical bills, orthodontics, college etc. This has been my argument on marriage in the priesthood from just the practical side. Really wakes them up.
Our church group discussed this issue recently. The Anglican bishop who ordained the priest much be able to trace his ordination lineage back to a pre-Henry VIII reformation bishop. In other words, one that predates the Anglican church itself.
The priest is already married to the Church. Here is a good reason why he cannot be married to a woman.
Very good article.