The idea is, you see, that, while many priests feel freed from sexual longing and a desire for personal intimacy on entering the Church, many do not. At least, that's the argument put forward by Donald Cozzens, professor at John Carroll University and author of Freeing Celibacy.
In my humble opinion, that has to be one of the most stupid arguments against priestly celibacy ever written. It is somewhat akin to suggesting that, because some married people still experience sexual feelings towards people other than their spouse, fidelity in marriage is an unreasonable expectation.
It is related to the modern inability to accept that one is capable of living without sex.
A priest is required to be celibate (I'm not considering convert clergy who were married before they became Catholics) and he makes a promise to that effect at his ordination to the diaconate. He has had plenty of time (generally five or six years) in which to consider whether or not he would be better suited to the married state. The promise is made freely, for the sake of the Kingdom of God. It is a sacrifice, to be sure, but it's made freely.
The priest does not promise that he will never experience feelings of a sexual nature. He promises that he will not act upon those feelings. The same thing actually applies to Religious.
If you read the Time article carefully, you'll see that it's not really about allowing priests to marry. Advocates of celibacy reform are actually calling for the Church to abandon the law prohibiting priests from marrying or being sexually active.
It's pretty obvious where this is coming from...
6 comments:
I think you'd exchange one set of problems for another. You're quite right that it's a red herring. The losers at TIME just can't imagine that a grown person could choice not to have sex, because to THEM sex is an absolute must have. THey do not realize that you can give up a good for a greater good. To them "pleasure, if it feels good, do it"is the highest ruling principle. Many journalists don't believe in God, so to them this sort of self denial to serve God by serving others first is unfathomable.
The rule of Celibacy is too good, and therefore difficult, for secular people to understand.
A good traditional priest told that TIME magazine donated money to masonic lodges and population-control organisations.
Says it all really.
Where is this coming from?
Fr Julian and Fr Sandy is my guess.
Dilly - Fr. Julian or Fr. Sandy...??
Ditto what Karen said. Having first hand experience of being involved (as a parish worker) with a married (former Anglican) Catholic priest...and also having an Anglican vicars wife for a best friend...the problems would be huge if priests were allowed to marry.
I won't go on and on as i've got to put the tea out now duck, but seriously...it's either a case of the married priest putting his family first and not being there for his flock....or the other extreme is that he becomes so engrossed in parish 'work' that his family have to make appointments to see him.
God knows what he is doing.
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