Bishops Discuss Shortage of Catholic Priests

[Ahimsa]

** Bishops Discuss Shortage of Catholic Priests **

 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: October 6, 2005
Filed at 2:26 p.m. ET

VATICAN CITY (AP) – The head of the conservative Roman Catholic movement Opus Dei suggested Thursday that the church consider not giving out Communion during huge Masses because it cannot be done ‘‘in a dignified way.’’

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At the Synod of Bishops, the Oct. 2-23 meeting of the world’s Catholic bishops, one prominent leader seemed to criticize large masses.

Monsignor Javier Echevarria Rodriguez also criticized Masses that have an excessive number of priests celebrating together, saying it can confuse the faithful and diminish the link between the priest and the altar.

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[josethomas]

The shortage of Catholic Priests is a subject to be deliberated. But the remedy suggested by some of the Bishops appear to be worse than the problem itself. Ordaining married persons as priests is not a solution at all.

The priestly vocation involves a spectacular way of dedication to the Lord. Our lord himself has told through the Bible that the people of this world marry and beget children, whereas it is not so in the heavenly life. Further He has also advised his disciples to leave their father, mother, wife and children and their own self and follow him. Catholic faith manifests this obligation in the vocation of celebate priests and it is direly needed in this secular world as a contradiction.

The celibacy refers to how God respected the vow of prepectual virginity of Mary who was chosen to be the mother of our lord Jesus Christ. It also gives courage and commitment to the lay faithful to respect the virtue of chastity. The priests are shining examples for the laity. Further the priest is a man wedded to the Catholic community as the representative of Christ to nurture the flock as his bride, without the mar of sin and impropriety.

The vocation of priesthood should be correctly understood and appreciated at least in this year of the Eucharist, which is about to conclude shortly. The system of celebate priesthood should be properly understood for the growth of the the Catholic community and centering them to the Eucharist.

It is observed that so many years are spent studying various subjects in the seminaries. The system of seminary education may be re oriented so that the ordination takes place at an early age so that the services of the priest will be avaiable to the faithfull. Another suggestion is that the priests can give first place to the liturgical and sacremental needs of the faithful and delegate the administration of Church materials to the laity. A cuture of transparency and vigilance will solve the related problems if any. The other suggestion of ensuring equitable distribution of priests to various segments of the Christian laity can also be considered.

JOSE THOMAS