P
Pious_Mat
Guest
Let me answer these one at a time:
A-- Celibate priest, never married, etc…most common
A man who has known his vocation most of his adult life, ordained in his twenties or thirties, tries to lead his flock and live a Holy life through the Sacrifice and Holiness that accompanies celibacy.
B-- Widower with children and possibly grandchildren
Still celibate, and no less of a priest for coming to celibacy late. His first calling came to an end, and he was called late to work in the vineyard. Have you ever read the parable of the prodigal son? The priest who is celibate all his life is like the loyal son. Late comers who follow other paths before realizing their vocations are somewhat like the prodigal son (not to say there is anything wrong with being married). Does the Father love one son more than the other? Of course not. They’re both priests, both celibate, and on the same playing field. You earn brownie points by playing “Who’s been celibate longer.” That would in fact be a sin against Humility.
C-- Convert who may have wife and children, and possibly have even more children?
Under the Pastoral Privilege instituted by JP2, Episcopal, Lutheran, and some other denomiations’ ministers can be ordained in the Catholic Church and live as married men. This is an exception to the rule, and is not normal. To understand why this is allowed, one must understand that celibacy is a discipline, a voluntary thing, not a dogma. Celibacy is not an absolute requirement for being a priest, it is a bonus. It is a great form of Sacrifice, and a means of becoming Holier. I might say the Divine Office everyday, and you may not, but we can both be Holy. I just use a tool that helps me become Holy–that’s what celibacy is. So the convert, married priest, and Eastern Catholic priests as well, are still in orders, and are Holy men, just as much celibate priests.
**I’m trying to understand…Are priests to be celibate or not? **
Candidates for the priesthood are normally to be chosen from among Celibate men (seminarians make their Solemn Promise of celibacy long before they are ordained), and this is certainly a bonus, and an exercise in Holiness, that benefits those men. However, if a priest is married, he can still be a good and Holy man, even if he foregoes the “bonus marks” that celibacy provide for living a Holy life.
Many experts would also say that a married priesthood would be impractical for the Latin Church, but this is a secondary factor.
Also note that nowhere in the Catholic Church–East or West–are Bishops married.
Why different rules? Why does one priest have to repress his reproduction/sexuality, when others didn’t or don’t?
As I’ve shown, there’s one rule with a few exceptions to meet extraordinary circumstances. And to say that a celibate person has to “repress his sexuality” is absurd. First of all, everyone who is celibate makes a free choice to do so, and for priests, this is long before they are ordained. Also, “repression” makes it sound as if we are animals who have no control over our bodily functions. Jesus Himself chose to be celibate, and to call this lifestyle “unnatural” is to accuse Our Lord, who was fully human and had human urges which he chose to ignore, of being “unnatural.” Better to say “supernatural” because celibacy is only achieved by grace of God.
Also, as to increasing vocations by allowing married priests, I think the point is moot. If you ask seminarians about their worries, celibacy is pretty low down on the list; they’re not agonizing over the celibacy thing. Also, if allowing married men to become priests increases vocations, think of the kind of men we’d be getting–those individuals would be those who would readily choose marriage over priesthood. I’d rather have priests who want to be priests more than anything in the world than those who are not willing to give up everything for God. One John Vianney is better than a hundred half-hearted priests who only show up once a week to say Mass.
Feel free to ask any more questions.
A-- Celibate priest, never married, etc…most common
A man who has known his vocation most of his adult life, ordained in his twenties or thirties, tries to lead his flock and live a Holy life through the Sacrifice and Holiness that accompanies celibacy.
B-- Widower with children and possibly grandchildren
Still celibate, and no less of a priest for coming to celibacy late. His first calling came to an end, and he was called late to work in the vineyard. Have you ever read the parable of the prodigal son? The priest who is celibate all his life is like the loyal son. Late comers who follow other paths before realizing their vocations are somewhat like the prodigal son (not to say there is anything wrong with being married). Does the Father love one son more than the other? Of course not. They’re both priests, both celibate, and on the same playing field. You earn brownie points by playing “Who’s been celibate longer.” That would in fact be a sin against Humility.
C-- Convert who may have wife and children, and possibly have even more children?
Under the Pastoral Privilege instituted by JP2, Episcopal, Lutheran, and some other denomiations’ ministers can be ordained in the Catholic Church and live as married men. This is an exception to the rule, and is not normal. To understand why this is allowed, one must understand that celibacy is a discipline, a voluntary thing, not a dogma. Celibacy is not an absolute requirement for being a priest, it is a bonus. It is a great form of Sacrifice, and a means of becoming Holier. I might say the Divine Office everyday, and you may not, but we can both be Holy. I just use a tool that helps me become Holy–that’s what celibacy is. So the convert, married priest, and Eastern Catholic priests as well, are still in orders, and are Holy men, just as much celibate priests.
**I’m trying to understand…Are priests to be celibate or not? **
Candidates for the priesthood are normally to be chosen from among Celibate men (seminarians make their Solemn Promise of celibacy long before they are ordained), and this is certainly a bonus, and an exercise in Holiness, that benefits those men. However, if a priest is married, he can still be a good and Holy man, even if he foregoes the “bonus marks” that celibacy provide for living a Holy life.
Many experts would also say that a married priesthood would be impractical for the Latin Church, but this is a secondary factor.
Also note that nowhere in the Catholic Church–East or West–are Bishops married.
Why different rules? Why does one priest have to repress his reproduction/sexuality, when others didn’t or don’t?
As I’ve shown, there’s one rule with a few exceptions to meet extraordinary circumstances. And to say that a celibate person has to “repress his sexuality” is absurd. First of all, everyone who is celibate makes a free choice to do so, and for priests, this is long before they are ordained. Also, “repression” makes it sound as if we are animals who have no control over our bodily functions. Jesus Himself chose to be celibate, and to call this lifestyle “unnatural” is to accuse Our Lord, who was fully human and had human urges which he chose to ignore, of being “unnatural.” Better to say “supernatural” because celibacy is only achieved by grace of God.
Also, as to increasing vocations by allowing married priests, I think the point is moot. If you ask seminarians about their worries, celibacy is pretty low down on the list; they’re not agonizing over the celibacy thing. Also, if allowing married men to become priests increases vocations, think of the kind of men we’d be getting–those individuals would be those who would readily choose marriage over priesthood. I’d rather have priests who want to be priests more than anything in the world than those who are not willing to give up everything for God. One John Vianney is better than a hundred half-hearted priests who only show up once a week to say Mass.
Feel free to ask any more questions.
