Posted on 02/20/2008 12:32:32 PM PST by Alex Murphy
Ratisbona, Feb 20, 2008 / 01:00 pm (CNA).- Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Muller of Ratisbona told reporters in Germany today that the Catholic Church does not intend to abolish clerical celibacy. “The Latin rite of the Catholic Church holds to the sensible union of the priesthood and the celibate life for love of the Kingdom of Heaven. This is and will continue to be the Catholic Church’s discipline,” the bishop said, adding that celibacy will not be abolished “now or in the future.”
He said reporters had twisted the comments of Archbishop Robert Zollitsch of Freiburg about celibacy, saying that “in a fast interview all of the demands related to the issue of priesthood and celibacy cannot be satisfied.”
He went on to note that Vatican II clarified that the Church would continue to uphold the tradition of priestly celibacy.
According to the website Kath.net, Bishop Muller reiterated that “as bishops we are concerned about awakening vocations to the priesthood and striving to deepen the understanding of the spiritual dimension of the celibate life.”
Men who feel called to the priesthood and to the charism of this way of life in accord with the Gospel can be blessed as priests in the Catholic Church, “as long as the necessary requirements are met,” he said.
Barely a week since taking office, the head of the German Catholic Church, Robert Zollitsch, has raised eyebrows with comments that clerical celibacy is not "theologically necessary."In an interview with German newsmagazine Der Spiegel, 69-year-old archbishop of Freiburg, Robert Zollitsch, who is now head of the German Catholic Church, said that celibacy and the unmarried lives of priests were a "gift," but not essential.
Why are priests required to be celibate?
"All the ordained ministers of the Latin Church, with the exception of permanent deacons, are normally chosen from among men of faith who live a celibate life and who intend to remain celibate "for the sake of the kingdom of heaven." Called to consecrate themselves with undivided heart to the Lord and to "the affairs of the Lord," they give themselves entirely to God and to men. Celibacy is a sign of this new life to the service of which the Church's minister is consecrated; accepted with a joyous heart celibacy radiantly proclaims the Reign of God."
St. Paul in First Corinthians 7 extols the spiritual value of celibacy: “It is good for a man not to marry. ... I wish that all men were as I am.” Paul explains why: it is so one can serve the Lord single-mindedly. Jesus speaks of men who “become eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven.” In the Book of Revelation 14:4, it says, “These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.”
Jesus was celibate, as were John the Baptist and (according to Christian tradition) Mary. There is ample evidence that celibacy was highly esteemed in the early Church, and that in the first centuries those in ordained ministry were expected either to be unmarried, or if already married to give up sexual relations with their wives. By the year 400 or so, this was a Church law throughout most of the Western Church. In the Eastern Church, the rule of celibacy was weaker: bishops had to be celibate, but the lower orders of clergy could be married -— but if single when ordained they had to remain single.
This is a Roman Catholic tradition, not Protestant!
IIRC Luther believed in the perpetual virginity of our Lady.
FYI: Ratisbona is the old Roman name for Regensburg!
Incorrect. Suggest you familiarize yourself with the teachings of people like Calvin, Luther and Zwingli, to name only three, on the topic. The rejection of the perpetual virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a relatively novel concept amongst far too many protestants who know very little of the history of Christianity.
Evangelicals who are biblically literate do not believe this.
That is an interpretation which ignores the reference to brothers and sisters, or claims that they are cousins. It is not a settled issue...it is a matter of interpretation.
And Evangelicals are not "Johnny-come-latelies" - they have a long tradition of literal interpretation of the Scriptures as opposed to allegorization, or twisting their interpretation is match their Traditions.
“...clerical celibacy is not ‘theologically necessary.’”
Nothing new or exciting here.
Celibacy is not theologically necessary to Holy Orders. If it were, it would not be possible to recognize the Holy Orders of Eastern Catholic priests, of Orthodox priests, or even of Latin Catholic priests who are married.
Celibacy is a discipline of the Latin Church, not a doctrine or dogma of the entire Catholic Church. The Church finds this discipline to be salutory and finds no reason for change.
sitetest
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.