Pueblo Comments
#1
I am returning your survey, which I received in January. I would like to make a couple of points in addition to the survey.
There seems to be a presumption that the abolishing of mandatory celibacy will result in more priests. But no proof is ever offered of the truth of this presumption. The Protestant experience tells us that there can still be acute shortages of clergy who are married. My opinion is that the same would be true in the Catholic Church.
I have always believed that celibacy should be accompanied by a simple detached life-style. I fear that a married clergy would become even more materialistic than the present celibate clergy.
Those in favor of non-celibate clergy do not seem to deal with the deep theological meaning of celibacy. The person of the celibate priest proclaims Christ the Bridegroom committed to his Bride, the Church. The life-style and actions of the priest should flow from his evangelical celibacy.
Religious priests should not be consulted on this survey. After all, they have taken vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. These vows are their raison d’etre.
I do believe it may come about that secular priests will die out and we will be left only with religious priests who will dwell in communities of 3+ and serve parishes from these communities.
I had to laugh at your presumption that, if a priest spoke out on this matter he would be putting himself at risk! In my experience the bishops, both individually and as a body have virtually abandoned their priests. Once a man is ordained bishop he joins an “old boys club” rather like the U. S. Senate, and prefers the company of fellow bishops to his priests. A priest is only a money raiser for the Bishop’s Office. Similarly, the Pope and his officials are utterly remote from our lives and have no interest in how we are making our way in the 21st century. No one cares what we think or how we live. Nor will they care about your survey.
I am sorry to give you this bad news, but it does come from my reflected experience. The vast majority of Catholics only care about receiving services from priests. They care nothing about the priest as a human being. This being true I have adapted as my principle in life, “Only listen to the people who will care for you if you are sick”. Everyone else is irrelevant.
#6
My answer is: “Not Sure”.
My reasons:
I never mind any discussion on this topic but in my lifetime and yours - the Celibacy rule will not change.
If it would change that priests could marry, fine but at my age, I would not be interested in marrying. I have enjoyed my life as a celibate (a challenge at times) and I feel that I have been able to be an effective priest minister throughout my 40 plus years.
By being celibate I am “more free” to minister, to have more time and energy in serving my brothers and sisters. To me: Being celibate is one vocation; being married in another. It’s too much.
I can tell you right now, the results of such a questionnaire will not have any effect on our bishops. Such a decision comes from Rome, not the bishops.
#8
I do not think the shortage of priests is due to the mandatory rule of celibacy. The charism of celibacy has been part of our church since it’s inception and only a rule for about 800 years. The dearth of vocations is due to many factors such as: materialism, contraception, abortion, secularism and religious apathy.
#9
I am ambivalent about making a decision for discussion on the “diocesan” issue, since I myself am “religious”. If you would have included all ordained clergy, I would have answered YES.
#20
Advocating open discussion usually associates itself with the intention to effect change in the matter to be discussed. It suggests to me, as well, bringing to that discussion a point of view at times little distinguishable from prejudice. I do not say this in criticism of the church-wide agitation for open discussion of the issue of mandatory celibacy requisite to ordination, but merely to introduce a caution, based, admittedly, on my own prejudice.
That caution would recuse from taking part any who would point to early Church life as argument against the discipline on such grounds as the marital status of Peter or the claim by Paul that he had right to marry equal to that of the other apostles. Also to be gagged and chained would be those whose scan of tradition goes back no further than the 11th century, to rest there in the argument that the church then codified the discipline as protection of itself against loss of wealth through inheritance. Pulling out of tongues might seem a somewhat harsh suggestion, but there would seem to be need of some similarly effective preventive to the argument that only by inviting those sworn in troth to another could we restore the proper balance between mass times and the clearing of the parking lot. Of the idea that pedophilia is causally connected to the suppression of sexuality which stems from celibacy, the less said the better.
What any discussion has to include is an open study of the mind of the early Church, which, by the 5th century had drawn for itself the analogy between refrain from sexual relations by priests of the Old Testament and the growing practice within Catholicism of daily liturgy. Especially do we need to look at people like Ephraim of Syria who saw waves of type and anti-type (prophetic sign and fulfillment) in the great historical divisions of Adam to Moses, Moses to Christ and Christ (through the sacraments) to the final eschatological banquet. We have to appreciate the awe with which they viewed imagination as the driving force of religious experience, and their endless quest for the ultimate through expressions inadequate in themselves but having the power to point to the beyond. Celibacy is one of those forms of expression of the idea of HAGIOS, “apart from the earth”. And, of course, let’s not rule out the power of attempts at imitation of Christ, and the secondary applications of that principle by Paul in his life.
Methinks that a likely result of such open investigation would be invitation to many gifted women in our church to consider Holy Orders, and a recommendation to those in wedded alliance that they continue in a condition, which they so suitably adorn.
#23
If there is to be a discussion it should come though the proper channels. It should not be instigated or orchestrated by a group of laity with vested interests and who do not know or understand what it is to be celibate.
Celibacy is a beautiful part of the priesthood - Yes it is a sacrifice and we do not make it in ignorance but with full knowledge and consent.
Please put your energies and efforts in the proper place and promote vocations. Thank you
#27
Dear Call to Action Members,
I received your questionnaire the other day and was heartbroken. It is the most discouraging mail I have received in a long time. I feel this to be a tremendous slap in the face. The charism of celibacy is one of the greatest gifts the Holy Spirit has given to the Church. It is also one of the greatest gifts I have given to the Church. You have taken this gift for granted and failed to support us priests in our vocations, especially our celibate vocations. It seemingly means nothing to you. In this you fail to encourage us, but you also fail to encourage others to follow in our footsteps. The lack of vocations does not stem from the “mandatory celibacy rule” as you call it. It stems from a lack of support and respect for celibate priests.
I will not be the least bit surprised if many priests respond favorably to your survey. However, I can only imagine what the results would be if celibacy (celibate priests in particular) had been respected and appreciated over the past 20 or 30 years.
Yet, as discouraging as your mailing is, it is not the greatest discouragement I will feel. I expect that I will receive no response, no encouragement, no appreciation or anything from our Bishop or anyone in our diocesan offices. I should not be surprised at your lack of support when our Bishop and those who work directly for him fail miserably in supporting their priests and priestly vocations.
I do appreciate your sincerity and ask that you pray for me.
#28
Why do we question the wisdom of the Holy Spirit? Why have we not learned from Mary “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done according to Thy will ! (Not Mine)
We need to teach the laity more on the sacredness of Marriage. We have failed in that matter.
The other rites and religions have not achieved greater holiness or made great strides. They have marital problems, divorce, etc.
Jesus proclaimed the celibate life. (Matt. 19:12). Guided by the Spirit, the Church endorsed the celibate life in imitation of Jesus. A priest must remember he gives up father, mother, etc. and he can accomplish it if he remembers what Jesus said, “without Me (apart from Me,) you can do nothing”. (John 15:5)
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