Let priests marry, urges cardinal

[milmor_1]

Let priests marry, urges cardinal
By Peter Popham in Rome
Published: 05 December 2006

A senior cardinal in the Catholic Church has raised the possibility that priests may be allowed to get married. Claudio Hummes, 72, Archbishop of Sao Paulo in Brazil and a strong candidate for pope in the event of a vacancy, gave his views to a Brazilian newspaper on the eve of taking up a top post in Rome that will give him charge over Catholic priests everywhere.

"Celibacy is a discipline, not a dogma of the Church," he told the Folha de S Paulo newspaper. "Certainly, the majority of the apostles were married. In this modern age, the Church must observe these things, it has to advance with history."

But yesterday, only hours before taking up his post as Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, the cardinal was forced into a U-turn. In a statement issued by the Vatican's press office, he repeated his point that celibacy was "a discipline not a dogma", but went on: "In any case, the norm of celibacy for priests in the Latin church is very ancient and rests on a consolidated tradition and on strong reasons, of a character both theological-spiritual and pastoral, confirmed also by popes."

The Vatican correspondent of Corriere della Sera newspaper described it as "extraordinary and without precedent ... [that] the official who will have authority over the life and discipline of priests" should release such a statement "on the eve of his installation".

Clearly someone high up in the Vatican felt the same way, hence the climbdown. "They are afraid of opening up a Pandora's box," said one seasoned Vatican observer. "If you admit married priests, for example, what would you do about priests who get divorced? The Pope has no appetite for this sort of reform."

Nevertheless, Cardinal Hummes, who is on the liberal wing of the Church, has signalled his commitment to explore the issue. Even the Vatican diehards may not be able to shut him up indefinitely.

The cardinal's bombshell came just a fortnight after a special Vatican council convened by the Pope confirmed the Church's commitment to celibacy.

The council met to decide what to do about Archbishop Emilio Milingo, the African cleric excommunicated for marrying a woman chosen by the Rev Sun Myung Moon.

In September Archbishop Milingo installed four married men as bishops, in defiance of the Church. One of the four, Peter Paul Brennan of New York, claimed that 150,000 men around the world, including 30,000 Americans, had left the priesthood because of the marriage bar.

In theory, priests may obtain permission to marry from the Pope, and Pope Paul VI often handed them out. But since the accession of John Paul II in 1978 such dispensations have become ever rarer and harder to obtain.

Married priests were once the norm: the New Testament has a reference to the mother-in-law of St Peter. Celibacy was introduced by Pope Gregory VII in the 11th century to keep the papacy at a distance from the aristocracy - and, later, from the Lutherans.

Independent Online Edition > Europe

[Snowden]

"Celibacy is a discipline, not a dogma of the Church," he told the Folha de S Paulo newspaper. "Certainly, the majority of the apostles were married. In this modern age, the Church must observe these things, it has to advance with history."

It started as one of the most grevious sins, actually. In the 12th Century the married priests were ordered by the pope to leave their families or leave the priesthood. The church wanted the property, and it got a lot of it.

Clearly someone high up in the Vatican felt the same way, hence the climbdown. "They are afraid of opening up a Pandora's box," said one seasoned Vatican observer. "If you admit married priests, for example, what would you do about priests who get divorced? The Pope has no appetite for this sort of reform."

Infuriating. Priests are men, and they give their lives to the Lord, married or celibate. This is a rotten rule, this celibacy requirement. My son is a Catholic priest, married and with two nearly grown childlren. He has the same responsibilities as the celibate and earns the same pay. People like to confess and talk with him, since he has "been there, done that." At first he caused a stir, but now is easily accepted.

As to divorce, sometimes it's necessary. A priest would be much less likely to persue that, given his vocation. But there would no doubt be times when it would come up. Big deal. The Orthodox priesthood is a married priesthood only - and with precious little problem with pedophile priests. If a marriage goes bad, they have plans in step for that. You do not make a man into Jesus Christ in an ordination. This is one of the many problems with men being in charge of God's church on earth, but it's one that common sense could easily fix. They just don't want to be bothered with it, and the church desperately needs priests.

Remove the celibacy requirement, and there would be enough priests. That simple. Take the divorce problem up when it arises, but have the steps in place. On man, one marriage. Orthodox priests cannot be married after ordination and it works. Those Orthodox who choose not to marry become monks.

Nevertheless, Cardinal Hummes, who is on the liberal wing of the Church, has signalled his commitment to explore the issue. Even the Vatican diehards may not be able to shut him up indefinitely.

It's a step in the right direction. They cannot depend on married clergy from other denominations coming in to take up the slack indefinitely. After all, the Protestant churches are not all that bad for the most part. Their clergy will not always be in the flux we see in those churches now; they will no doubt stabilize, and if the Catholic Church is not ready with this plan and action, they will be lost for priests.

The cardinal's bombshell came just a fortnight after a special Vatican council convened by the Pope confirmed the Church's commitment to celibacy.

I had hopes with this Pope. This is disappointing. It sounds like "If I can't have it, you can't." Not a good sign at all.

[Woodmonkey]

Originally Posted by milmor_1

"Celibacy is a discipline, not a dogma of the Church," he told the Folha de S Paulo newspaper. "Certainly, the majority of the apostles were married. In this modern age, the Church must observe these things, it has to advance with history."

He spoke the truth and no matter what he was later told to say, this is the truth.

Clearly someone high up in the Vatican felt the same way, hence the climbdown. "They are afraid of opening up a Pandora's box," said one seasoned Vatican observer. "If you admit married priests, for example, what would you do about priests who get divorced? The Pope has no appetite for this sort of reform."

They already admit married priests if they come over from certain Protestant Churches. They get to keep their wives and families and still be a priest. How unfair is that to those who were raised Catholic? They have a double standard.


Nevertheless, Cardinal Hummes, who is on the liberal wing of the Church, has signalled his commitment to explore the issue. Even the Vatican diehards may not be able to shut him up indefinitely.

Married priests were once the norm: the New Testament has a reference to the mother-in-law of St Peter. Celibacy was introduced by Pope Gregory VII in the 11th century to keep the papacy at a distance from the aristocracy - and, later, from the Lutherans.

Wasn't it also to make sure that wives and families wouldn't inherit any church property?

[Betty Boop]

Not being Catholic and belonging to a branch of Christianity that has never had a problem with marriage for our clergy, I view it a little differently perhaps.

St. Paul said it was better to marry than burn in hell because of carnal desires - but ideally that it was better to remain single and free to do the Lord's work. While I don't believe someone is more "holy" for remaining celibate, I do believe that without the encumberances of a spouse and family, one is free to come and go wherever and whenever God calls them. A family brings with it certain God-expected obligations to meet with financial burdens and in that the effectiveness of one's ministry could conceivably be hampered although arguably with the helpmate God made for man, a ministry team could be and many times have proven to be very effective.

As a Protestant, I have watched churches hire ministers into pastoral positions, pay one salary and then expect the wife to work just as hard as the one actually receiving the salary. I'm not sure that is a fair position to place a spouse in. I do know those ministers' wives who didn't tow the line and do "the job" with their spouses almost certainly sealed the ministry death knoll for their ordained partners.

Double-edged sword for ministers/priests, for sure.

[Snowden]

[quote]

Originally Posted by Woodmonkey

He spoke the truth and no matter what he was later told to say, this is the truth.

And a truth that must be faced and solved by doing away with this ridiculous requirement. There is no reason for it, really never was, but today it's just plain ridiculous.

They already admit married priests if they come over from certain Protestant Churches. They get to keep their wives and families and still be a priest. How unfair is that to those who were raised Catholic? They have a double standard.

And some of the priests are finding it just that - a double standard. They aren't stupid; they realize that they gave up a way of life that provides normalcy, companionship, children - really, the life they are trying to help others live. The experience of marriage would help them help others in that category, as well as give them the comforts of normalcy.

Wasn't it also to make sure that wives and families wouldn't inherit any church property?

That was the whole point, really. That property, being the property of the priest, reverted to the church. If my mind is working, this was to give sufficient funds to finish building the Vatican.

[Snowden]

Originally Posted by Betty Boop

Not being Catholic and belonging to a branch of Christianity that has never had a problem with marriage for our clergy, I view it a little differently perhaps.

St. Paul said it was better to marry than burn in hell because of carnal desires - but ideally that it was better to remain single and free to do the Lord's work. While I don't believe someone is more "holy" for remaining celibate, I do believe that without the encumberances of a spouse and family, one is free to come and go wherever and whenever God calls them. A family brings with it certain God-expected obligations to meet with financial burdens and in that the effectiveness of one's ministry could conceivably be hampered although arguably with the helpmate God made for man, a ministry team could be and many times have proven to be very effective.


As a Protestant, I have watched churches hire ministers into pastoral positions, pay one salary and then expect the wife to work just as hard as the one actually receiving the salary. I'm not sure that is a fair position to place a spouse in. I do know those ministers' wives who didn't tow the line and do "the job" with their spouses almost certainly sealed the ministry death knoll for their ordained partners.

Double-edged sword for ministers/priests, for sure.

The wives usually know what to expect, of course - but they don't know much yet about the realities of raising a family and full-time working. There are times when this is not possible. It shouldn't mean the man cannot continue his ministry - but of course, there are times when it does. The Catholic Church can handle this, whether or not it wants to do so. Others do; they will have to, or the shortage of priests will increase until we are back to travelling ministries - Mass once a month or every six months, when, if and as the priest can get to us.

Definitely a doule-edged sword.

[Carnage_59]

Originally Posted by Snowden

As to divo