Vatican Document Calls Celibacy Non-Negotiable

The San Diego Channel ^ | 6/28/03 | Associated Press

[MVV]

UPDATED: 4:42 p.m. EDT June 28, 2003

VATICAN CITY -- The Catholic Church's celibacy requirement for priests is non-negotiable.

That's the word from the Vatican.

The celibacy rule was reaffirmed in a wide-ranging document issued Saturday.

It acknowledges that fewer and fewer men are signing up for the priesthood. But it says letting priests marry isn't the answer.

Instead, it says current priests should dedicate themselves to attracting more candidates by better explaining the priesthood to lay Catholics, and by encouraging children to consider religious vocations.

The document touched on a host of other issues, including a call for Europe to be more welcoming to immigrants.

It also called for the "full participation" of women in the life of the church. But the Vatican says that doesn't mean as priests, since only men can be ordained.

Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[DallasMike]

The fact is that Smedley and others are trying to defend the indefensible.

I'm still waiting for them to actually defend their beliefs. I quote them the Catholic Bible, they say that's wrong; I send them to an early Church document referenced in the Catholic Encyclopedia, they meet me with silence. The closest thing they've provided to an argument is basically that the apostles couldn't have been married because, well, that just wouldn't have been right. I hope that the rest of their faith isn't grounded in the same shallow superstitions.

[fatima]

You took a vow never to remarry and always remain a deacon.

[sinkspur]

Um, the priest has Jesus, you know. That's the idea, the priest is married to Jesus -- obviously it's a bit different, but that's the idea. Just being in His presence brings immense joy. AND all his parishioners for a family, much larger than any he could hope for with a wife and kids.

That's vocation director boilerplate.

You don't know the first thing about how countless priests struggle with this very thing; not having a woman for a companion, not being able to physically hold somebody, not being able to talk into the night about a problem to somebody who won't jump up and bolt because things are getting tough. Oh, and that's all quite separate and apart from anything sexual.

Go ahead, try to hug Jesus. Shout out to Him and see if He answers you.

Sure, parishioners are family, but they send you home at night to an empty rectory and an empty bed and, for some, prayer just doesn't fill the gap.

Human beings have God-given needs and desires, and it takes a very strong man, at the age of 25, to say no to all of that, and stick to it.

For an old man of 52, like me, celibacy would be a piece of cake.

But I wouldn't have traded the last 26 years to sit on St. Peter's throne. No contest.

[Notwithstanding]

Sink,

Did you write this piece of am-church agitprop?

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Married priests' ordainment will have far-reaching implications

Monday, June 30, 2003
By PAUL F. HUGHES-CROMWICK

Despite the near complete lack of coverage concerning married priests being ordained into the Roman Catholic Church with the approval of the bishop of Lansing, I believe this to be a watershed religious event, perhaps the most significant in this 40-something Catholic's life. (On May 26 The News carried a brief Associated Press feed on page B3.) I predict three outcomes stemming from this authorization will have far-reaching implications.


First, married priests will be overwhelmingly welcomed into their respective parishes. (According to the AP article, the Diocese of Lansing will ordain three married Catholic priests; there will be about 200 nation-wide.) Sure, the novelty will upset traditionalists, but others, especially married parishioners who never fully understood or believed in the church's prohibition, will be very comfortable with the change and joyful about new opportunities. One can easily imagine a more "normal" social milieu taking root between parishioners and their priest's family. (When's the last time you invited your priest to dinner or golfing?) This will result in the laity accepting and even demanding married priests in growing numbers.

Second, current priests will obviously react to this development, but how do we predict their sentiments? For some, perhaps most, the change will be greeted by angst and disdain. They will see such a change as yet another cultural pathology only this time striking very near to home. They will profess that this change has no place in dealing with the grave problems the Church confronts - everything from a loss of moral authority because of pedophile scandals, to the resulting monetary strains from ongoing litigation settlements, to the central underlying crisis of too few priest candidates. But others, including many priests I have known over the years, will gladly accept this overdue policy. And let's be frank: some priests will advocate for their own permission to marry in the fullness of time. These developments will exert even greater pressure for overall acceptance of married priests.

Third, priestly "first ladies" will be accepted by most parishioners and their roles in the church will evolve and be transformed into wonderful benefits for the faithful. As above, there will certainly be resistance by parishioners who will have difficulty accepting the basic notion of married priests, let alone involvement, and assistance, from their spouses. But over time it is difficult to argue that their strong participation won't be welcomed if not demanded. Their potential for meaningful contributions is large indeed. This experience will add further to the pressure for married priest acceptance, and who knows, may even lay the ground work for female ordination. (God forbid!)

My hypothesis is that press coverage of this event mirrors the likely Diocese (and Vatican) perspective that this change represents an exception, used in the past under strict conditions, to a well-established prohibition. Why devote attention to a footnote in church history? From my vantage point, however, there is reason to believe that the faithful will view this "exception" not as an arcane, rarely exercised prerogative of the church but instead as a key stepping stone to rescission of the rule - an outcome that might spawn even more revolutionary changes in the Catholic Church, especially during the reign of Pope John Paul II's successor.

Paul F. Hughes-Cromwick is a resident of Ann Arbor. News readers can contribute essays of general interest to Other Voices. Please call the editorial page editor at (734) 994-6764.

[BenR2]

Jesus could walk in the door and show them the wedding pictures of Mr. and Mrs. Peter and they would argue with Him.


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ROFLOL. I think you nailed it!

[sinkspur]

From my vantage point, however, there is reason to believe that the faithful will view this "exception" not as an arcane, rarely exercised prerogative of the church but instead as a key stepping stone to rescission of the rule - an outcome that might spawn even more revolutionary changes in the Catholic Church, especially during the reign of Pope John Paul II's successor.

If the Church keeps ordaining these guys--and there's no sign that it won't--then look for the acceptance of married priests to continue to grow.

If the Church doesn't want a married priesthood, how does continuing to ordain married men strengthen the argument that married men can't be good priests?

[RobbyS]

I am very much aware of the problem. It was only indirectly caused by the celibacy requirement. That did cause many priests and seminarians to abandon their calling after Vatican II. Many of those priests who stayed were the homosexuals, and they, unlike other priests, recruited their own kind. But the homosexuals found celibacy even more unbearable. But are THEY going to leave to get married? So they stayed and worked to change the teaching of the Church and made little effort to keep their vows. For every one of them who hit on altar boys, there were many others who hung out at gays bars.

[sinkspur]

You took a vow never to remarry and always remain a deacon.

Yep.

[BenR2]

I hope that the rest of their faith isn't grounded in the same shallow superstitions.


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You mean the parts about Purgatory, the Assumption of Mary, Fatima, bleeding statues, weeping statues, rosaries, tons of wood from THE cross, saying that sex for fun between a husband and wife is wrong (if they aren't at least TRYING to have kids), the "unbroken" chain of Apostolic Succession in the Papacy, etc, etc (ad infinitum)?

Nahhhh: NOTHING shallow or superstitious here. Everybody move along. Nothing to see here.

[BenR2]

I am very much aware of the problem. It was only indirectly caused by the celibacy requirement. That did cause many priests and seminarians to abandon their calling after Vatican II. Many of those priests who stayed were the homosexuals, and they, unlike other priests, recruited their own kind. But the homosexuals found celibacy even more unbearable. But are THEY going to leave to get married? So they stayed and worked to change the teaching of the Church and made little effort to keep their vows. For every one of them who hit on altar boys, there were many others who hung out at gays bars.


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Okay. I will give you VERY high marks for a painfully honest post -- though you and I remain at odds of the fundamental issue under consideration (the wisdom of having a rule of enforced universal celibacy for the clergy).

[saradippity]

Anything the gaggle of bishops that have held sway in this country since Vatican II says or does anything I just assume it's wrong and was done to grease the way for the new world order where I believe they had a vision of themselves working with the one world government,ruling the one world religion.Most of them (the gaggle)are infiltrates who progressed up the line. Most of them would agree with you on your interpretations,I would bet.The rest of the gaggle,were weak men,flawed and subject to blackmail.The good Bishops have had no input but the tide is turning.

You don't seem to understand what I am asking and I refuse to go further than the Four Gospels until you or anyone else can answer this. Where in the four gospels does it show that any of the Apostles were married when Jesus chose them?I only say when Jesus chose them to save you from giving me the Peter's mother-in-law jazz. If you can show me you will have done more than at least one hundred catholics and nonCathlics have been able to do.

[sinkspur]

Um, the priest has Jesus, you know.

You have Jesus too. You gonna give up what sits in front of you because "Jesus is enough"?

Jesus called a community of believers, He instituted the community of marriage, He calls us as a community to salvation.

"This teaching is not for everyone. Let him accept it who can."

[fatima]

sinkspur,Your vocation was not priesthood and I have many priests friends,Are you a mole,All my priests friends are so happy,one of my spiritual directors described Christmas as being everyday.You are a mole or not prudent-which is curable .

[sinkspur]

I just assume it's wrong and was done to grease the way for the new world order where I believe they had a vision of themselves working with the one world government,ruling the one world religion.

Sara, don't tell me you're a Bircher? Only the JBS talks about the "new world order."

You have GOT to get out more!

[sinkspur]

All my priests friends are so happy,

Fatima, they wouldn't tell you if they weren't.

[saradippity]

Oh,I just got out last night and described my experience to Dallas Mike,who is much more interested in trying to play gotcha and proveit than looking at reality.

Gee,seniorbush mentioned the new world order before taking what must be the family's regular visit to Iraq prior to the gulf War.I didn't know he was a bircher.Is he?

[fatima]

Sinksur,My priest friends are happy with vocation-you were not-you are a deacon who took a vow to never remarry or be a priest.Resign,you do not beleive what you represent.

[MVV]

BRAVO! I loved your post. My exact sentiments.

FReegards!

[MVV]

You are the epitome of a "FReeper", God bless you and have a wonderful 4th of July! :)

[MVV]

Many thanks for that informative post.