Buffalo, NY Comments
Thank you for providing a vehicle for expressing our belief on this crucial subject.
This matter belongs to the Episcopacy to determine.
Great idea. I too thought of doing this. I’m sure that many of us would be happy to sign.
Great idea! You have my support!
Open discussion would not necessarily lead to a healthier Church, since the resistance to such health are (sic) immense, but it might. Anything is healthier than a refusal to talk about it.
…open discussion on celibacy could lead to new insights, and a deeper understanding of the values of celibacy.
I defineately believe that optional celibacy would help alleviate the vocation shortage. A presbyterate that includes some who are married would reflect the beauty of the Body of Christ.
Thanks for your help.
Healthy discussion is always desirable! How do we reconcile the fact that there are clearly good priests who are faithful witnesse to what a priest is, but who have no sense of being “called” to a life of celibacy.
I have finally “grown into” real celibacy, but still think it should be optional.
Open discussion on any issue leads to greater health. Beast wishes.
This would not be applicable to me as a religious, but I believe that unless this dialogue is begun, we will either have to import ordained ministers or become a church whose liturgical and pastoral needs are met by the laity.
Praying hard. Thanks & God bless.
The Bishops need to realize that the crisis they will face by dropping celibacy is no where near the crisis of having no priests! They are TOTALLY CLUESLESS!
Roma louta, causa finita! Who do you think you are?? The Holy Father said that celibacy is not open to question or discussion. Are you with us, or against us? Seek out a Roman Catholic priest to guide you!…all of this is none of your business! Did you think to discuss this survey with Bishop Mansell? He would have given you proper direction which you probably do not desire…you may expect that Call To Action will no longer be welcome in Buffalo!
Celibacy should be an option. It is so unfair to re-ordain Episcopal clergy & admit them and their wives into pastorates in the R.C. Church.
Thank you for the opportunity you give me to tell you that organizations like “Call to Action” are a cancer on the body of the Church.
Thank you for pursuing this important issue, and trying to provide a suitable forum for open discussion. I am happy to support the activities of Call to Action.
If the Anglican and Lutheran ministers who become Roman Catholic are permitted to be married and be ordained Roman Catholic priests, why not the young Roman Catholic men! I don’t get it!
Thanks for your leadership on this issue.
I am beyond the age when any woman would want to share table and bed with me. However, I see many plusses, many hazards. Interested in our diocesan policy. Thanks.
Discussion, NO. optional celibacy, YES.
Thank you for taking this initiative. Many priests are reluctant to bring the issue to the forefront of the hierarchy’s attention. Behind the scenes they speak about change, especially concerning celibacy.
As a religious priest who has taken a vow of chastity, I understood that celibacy was a discipline of the Church, and could change at any time. Yet I chose religious life because of the religious charism of St. Francis, and the Call (vocation) to live within the fraternity of brothers. So the evangelical virtue virtue of chastity “for the sake of the Kingdom”, is a gift and a call that not everyone is given, just like the call to intimate and exclusive relationship with a woman is not given to everyone.
I think we must realize that optional celibacy will not relieve the present and projected shortage. But it will certainly allow for a greater pool of candidates….the response to this will definitely have ecumenical ramifications. Again, thanks.
Thank you for doing this, but I think it’s very sad for 2 reasons: 1. that it has to be done at all. 2. that it has to be so covert and secretive like some kind of conspiracy.
I do not need your assistance to express my thoughts to our bishop.
Thank you for taking the initiative. Especially, in a confidential way you are doing it.
A rather amateurish survey – no nuance or insight.
There is a need for greater openness & dialogue in the true spirit of collegiality (Vatican II) enunciated. The structures of the church ought to more truly reflect the Spirit’s movement at all levels & through all members of Christ’s Body. It is the only to truly discern the direction the Holy Spirit is calling us to move toward!
Open and honest discussion is needed on: optional celibacy, a married clergy, clergy lifestyles, lay leadership, women’s ordination, divorced and separated role in church and support given them, ecumenism, healthy sexuality.
Te deum
The first and most important question that should be asked and answered is “why are priests afraid to speak out on subjects that are contrary to those held by our Bishop?
To any educated person, the answer to the above question is obvious! It is a fact, in our Diocese, that those who disagree with the Bishop are put on THE BLACK LIST. Don’t ever expect to receive any recognition for work done if your name appears on the above list. That includes appointments to better parishes, as well as titles of respect, e.g. Msgr.
If you need proof, look at what transpired with the priests who met at St. Joseph’s Church [at the] University. After their intial report, they were called to the Chancery Office, where they were yelled at by the Bishop for no less than three quarters of an hour. If the Bishop’s high handed method had no effect on the priests, how is it that no other meeting was held as promised. The diocese of Buffalo has a unique way of keeping their priests under their complete control. Their means of doing this is very simple. Pay them just enough to keep them happy, but not enough to become financially able. In the way, they are totally dependent upon the Diocese for their very existence. Of the larger Dioceses in the United States, Buffalo ranks toward the bottom on what they pay their priests in salary. Priests are always in fear of doing something that would displease the Bishop, because suspension is always a possibility, and with it comes the total loss of salary.
To make sure that you are dependent upon the Diocese, even after retirement, they imposed the rule that if you have a retirement check from another source other than theirs, they deduct the amount from what they should be paying. Therefore, if you served in the army reserve for 20 or 30 years, and received a government pension, that amount was deducted form your diocesan pension.
I could go on and on, but I think that I have said enough.
Thank you for doing this…also for sending a copy to the Bishop before it appears in the [Buffalo] news [Touch of Class]. Open discussion could lead to new insights and a deeper understanding of the value of celibacy (instead of acceptance as an act of obedience).
Further study and discussion could lead to a personal commitment of the heart, a step in becoming true celibates, instead of dedicated bachelors.
Married priests create new problems. Even abuse of minors – though less, not excluded. (see the problems of married protestant ministers)
At ordination, we freely took and implicit solemn vow of celibacy…we cannot break that vow without grave sin…let us be mindful that the Call for (sic) Action group are (sic) opposed to true catholic doctrine…all Catholics should rather join the larger group, the call to holiness.
Any male, who by the age of 24 does not understand the meaning of celibacy is either naïve, or dishonest. To change centuries of success and tradition because of the weakness of a few weak characters is unthinkable. They rank with the few anonymous “brothers” who are now making statements about Bishop Mansell. There are always a few nuts in every box of Cracker Jacks.
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