Posted on 03/27/2023 7:57:09 AM PDT by massmike
Pope Francis has hinted that he would review the Roman Catholic Church’s rule of priestly celibacy, describing it as an individual “discipline” rather than a “contradiction” to the church.
“There is no contradiction for a priest to marry. Celibacy in the western Church is a temporary prescription,” Francis, 86, remarked. “It is not eternal like priestly ordination, which is forever, whether you like it or not. Whether you leave or not is another matter, but it is forever. On the other hand, celibacy is a discipline.”
Celibacy was made a requirement in the Catholic Church around the 11th century, following centuries of tradition for priests to embrace the practice along with vows of abstinence.
Most recently, Germany’s Catholic Church voted to formally send a request to the Pope to end the requirement, and it appears as though Francis might agree.
Citing the Eastern Rite Catholic Church, which gives more leeway to its priests, Francis said: “Everyone in the Eastern Church is married, or those who want to. Before ordination there is the choice to marry or to be celibate.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Not sure if Peter was married before meeting Christ. I assume so. But, this is besides the point.
As this foolish pope actually gets right, there’s no commandment against married priests. The idea behind the prohibition was that marriage/children would be too much of a time draw away from the vocation. Unfortunately, the consequence of this was it created a hive of gay/pedophilic activity. This is one of the biggest reasons why I support the reversal of this decision. There will be more straights on the inside to keep the gays in check.
Here's an easier answer: don't ordain homosexuals. If one slips through, never, ever raise him to the episcopate.
To those who complain that there wouldn't be enough priests ... get rid of irreverent NO Masses and preach and do serious Catholicism. Problem solved.
The Vatican gay bathhouse can open next to the Vatican sex change clinic & Vatican abortuary.
In the mid seventies, the local Catholic priest was married to a lovely blonde woman, and had 3 small boys. I had to ask him how this worked.
He told me he was already married and had one child when he entered the priesthood.
He was a great guy. Very funny and friendly.
One Sunday afternoon,I was working at the local Safeway.
There was a woman checking out. He wheels up with a buggy loaded with beer. Still wearing his collar.
The woman did a couple of double takes at him. He smiled and said,” Oh, don’t worry Mam, we are just have a church picnic.” I though she was going to fall over.
I expect this priest was formerly a priest in the Episcopal Church and was accepted into the Catholic priesthood after converting and attending Seminary. It’s not uncommon.
Was there a lack of eligible women in those days? Just a question.
This is the correct direction this is going, along with entire jettisoning of Catholic Teaching on Sexuality.
It wasn’t this, Jesus was perfectly fine upsetting the order of things he didn’t like.
Basically the Catholic position is that Jesus didn’t ordain women so it isn’t the Churches faculty to make what God has not ordained a Sacrament.
“St. Paul. Paul clearly teaches in 1 Cor 7 that celibacy is superior to marriage”
St Paul’s teaching is very accurate:
* It would be best if folk could be celibate like himself
* For most men celibacy is not compatible with human nature
If more Catholics had read and understood what Paul was saying here they could have avoided the mess they got the church into.
See Saint Paul’s and Jesus’ sayings on celebacy, especially for the sake of the kingdom.
https://www.catholic.com/tract/celibacy-and-the-priesthood
For the authority of Saint Peter and his successors:
https://www.catholic.com/tract/the-authority-of-the-pope-part-i
It’s all very well documented.
Nope, keep reading, especially what Jesus did in the upper room.
Rules, His Fakeness don’t need no stinkin’ rules!
Those pieces so utterly miss the point.
Sure celibacy is better, but as Paul points out it is not compatible with human nature.
Jesus was celibate, angels are celibate, but it is the height of hubris to believe that fallen man can attempt to live the same life as those who are without sin.
It is the same as wishing for a world without violence. Yes it would be great if we could have no police and no army, but we live in a fallen world and that peace will never be attained.
Throughout the bible there are many passages praising and encouraging marriage and having children.
While I don't subscribe to any religion, I always took the time to stop and listen to Fr. Jonathan Morris when he was religious contributor on FOX news. I found him very inspiring and down to earth and I was saddened to see him have to make a clearly difficult decision to either remain a priest or leave the church and follow his heart and get married and have a family.
It just doesn't make any sense......
There isn’t a ban on being married as a priest. It is also not a Catholic teaching that they can’t be married, it is a discipline.
There are currently many married priests that converted from Anglican to Catholic.
Eastern rite Catholics also have married priests and are in union with the Pope.
It makes perfect sense. My time as a father is divided between work and family. As a priest you have to be all things to all people, your schedule is erratic and the demands are high. Every priest I know DOES NOT want marriage and a family simply because your first concern would be a family.
Being celibate means you can give your entire life and focus to God and his kingdom.
Then why does Scripture praise celibacy for the sake of the kingdom?
I don’t totally disagree, but is a homosexual a homosexual if he doesn’t act on his urges? I have no idea what percentage of them are sexually active but some number aren’t. Everyone has their own weaknesses when it comes to sinning. You could make the argument that there problem has become so pervasive that anyone who has homosexual tendencies should leave the order, but frankly, that would probably bankrupt the church if it happened all at once.
“Eligible women”? Eligible for what, marriage or priesthood?
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