The president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, German Cardinal Walter Kasper, highlighted the importance of celibacy, calling it “a witness to the radical following of Christ.”
“Reading the newspapers one has the impression that most people are against (celibacy). I am proud to say I am not one of them,” the cardinal said at a Mass celebrated Feb. 6 at the Church of Santa Maria dell’Anima, located in Rome.
The cardinal’s words came in response to a letter signed by 143 dissident theologians from Austria, Switzerland and Germany calling for married priests and a “greater leadership” role for women.
“Celibacy is a witness to the radical following of Christ,” the cardinal continued. “It is the sign that exists for Christ and for the Kingdom of God.”
The cardinal referred to the gospel passage which says Christians should be the “salt of the earth” and said that celibacy “is that pinch of salt that not everyone can be but that brings good to all.
In their letter, the dissidents said the time has come for “a new beginning” in which married priests should be allowed to address the problem of sexual abuse in the Church.
Interesting that Pope John Paul II in Theology of the Body points to celibacy as those who forgo the marriage of this life for the state of the life to come. Because in heaven and in the resurrection, as Christ has mentioned, none of us will be married. Or to be more preceise, all will be married to Christ. A very wonderful way to view celibacy.
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