Celibacy in this example is analogous to the idea that the Missionaries of Charity would sleep in a comfortable bed in a climate-controlled room and have three nutritious meals a day.
What?
Do you think changing diapers, rather than being celibate is somehow going to make for better priests? You make celibacy sound like an easy life.
The life of the priest must be focused on prayer. The more a priest has to do, the less time he has for it.
In another example, Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity share the lives of the poor in Calcutta and other impoverished regions of the world so that they can be more effective ministers, sharing their way of life.
I am sure that they would be better able physically to care for the poor if they were sleeping in a comfortable bed in a climate-controlled room, eating three nutritious meals a day, etc.
And yet, by sharing the circumstances and lives of these impoverished members of the Body of Christ, they are truly one body with the poor.
Celibacy in this example is analogous to the idea that the Missionaries of Charity would sleep in a comfortable bed in a climate-controlled room and have three nutritious meals a day.
I hear what you are saying, but how far are you willing to go with that logic. Should female priests be allowed in order to support the females in their parish? Should priests be homosexuals to better support the homosexuals? You get the picture.
The fact is non-married priests are still truly one with the Body of Christ and they have much more time to minister to that same Body.
__________________ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. - Proverbs 3:5
How many Protestant congregations have 1000 families and just one minister?
Out here in the Bible Belt, I know Protestant congregations that have one minister for 100 families and less.....
A priest in a parish that size would have at least two other parishes to minister to, probably over a 25 mile radius.
Nah, that's completely false. Denominationals have minister shortages as well. Besides, how many more priests do you actually think we would have if we ordained married men? We're probably talking about a small boost, at best, with a much heightened risk of scandal. Fornication is a lot simpler than adultery. And divorce is nasty business. This discussion can't be reasonably approached from this angle.
Normally, I would point out that if you are a married man, and really do think that you have a vocation to the priest hood, that you discuss it with your priest. If you still feel strongly, move on to your bishop or someone else who works with vocations. They may well be able to find you some group that fits.
It goes still further, however, in that you can continue an appeal, but it will be difficult, and you might ultimately have to prove your obedience to the Church by taking 'no' for an answer (some unmarried men have to take 'no' for an answer).
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To a man in the third world, a life of celibacy and service, along with an excellent education and the respect of one's peers, probably seems like as good or better a choice than marriage.
A lot depends on what kind of life you're comparing the priesthood to....
__________________ "The world is wide, and I will not waste my life in friction when it could be turned into momentum."
__________________ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. - Proverbs 3:5
To a man in the third world, a life of celibacy and service, along with an excellent education and the respect of one's peers, probably seems like as good or better a choice than marriage.
A lot depends on what kind of life you're comparing the priesthood to....
I think that is an insult to priests in the third world.
Celibacy is a gift, for those who are called to it. However, mandated celibacy for priest, is flawed, and has been since the mandate has be put in place.
As human beings, we are naturally drawn toward relationships with the opposite sex.
Why this should prohibit a male from entering the priesthood, makes no sense, especially in light of the fact that all the apostles, except perhaps John, were married.
If Jesus wanted mandated celibacy, he would've only chosen bachelors as his apostles.
Yes SpiritualAntiseptic, it IS a reality. Sounds unidealistic, but you'd better deal with it. Haven't you noticed the increased number of priests from poorer countries who work in the West these days? It's not just the higher sprituality in those countries. I've lived in Africa and I assure you Jim is right, and it applies not only to India.
I can't belive this debate is getting so acrimonious, with the same old same old tired arguments. Of course the ideal is an unmarried priest, and the Church decided to "bet" on that ideal 1 000 years ago when She introduced that rule. But it is certainly not a necessity, and there is no reason to disparage the other side, whichever side you are on. There are excellent reasons both ways, and personally, I wish we could just have both. Not mandatory celibacy like we have, but a choice. Say unmarried monk-priests and married diocesan priests, like the Orthodox.
__________________ In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas!
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