So much for Paul’s views.
Monsignor Pope Ping!
Just got back from there to post a question and already it has over 75 responses.
He is so wrong.That’s why I stopped following him years ago.Some of what he says is good and some bad.
I don’t disagree with him, but marriage, for men in the USA at least, is a tremendous legal and economic risk, much more so than for women.
Given the state of society, the legal system, and the beliefs of most “modern” women regarding their entitlements (effectively believing they are entitled to all the advantages of being a women and a man, without any of the responsibilities of either sex), I don’t blame single men for remaining single.
The fact that this needs to be explained in multiple paragraphs shows how far gone the Western Civilization is.
I think he’s wrong about Opus Dei. Those who belong can make vows to remain single and, in effect, belong to a religious community. But that’s a relatively minor point.
I think I understand what Msgr. Pope means. It’s one thing to have an active vocation, to which one commits by vow or marriage covenant; another to simply accept that God decided you should be alone, and passively accept His Will for you. Being alone can be a cross- sometimes like Jesus in the Garden; yet it gives the opportunity to serve God with the freedom that would not exist if there were a spouse or family to care for. Daily Mass, prayer groups, even something as simple as washing altar linens, can be something important to do, and it eases some of the loneliness and gives one time with Jesus. Msgr. isn’t minimizing this: he’s simply stating that, again, it doesn’t involve a vow or commitment, as the other lives do.
This is a very sensitive subject for many. And let me be clear, I agree with the article.
However, there are many who are never going to be married, and are tired of having to explain it.
Having said that I find marriage (especially today) to be a terrifying prospect for a multitude of reasons. As others have pointed out here it is a risk. I'm in my mid-30's so I guess I can be counted as one of the younger generation whose given up on it for all of the secular reasons mentioned.
I won't deny that there is a certain misanthropic/misogynistic quality to my thinking, but marriage is also a calling (like parenthood) and personally, I don't want to be entrusted with the care of another person's soul.
But life is not over yet. We'll see what God has in store. Which is why single life is no vocation.