Celibacy 'not untouchable': Bertone [CN-USA]

[sidbrown]

However there is no evidence to suggest that celibacy is linked with abuse.

But according to experts, such as Bill Donohue and Cardinal Bertone, this is a homosexual problem. But would not a homosexual be less likely to want to marry a woman and live with her than a heterosexual. So by requiring all priests and bishops to get married, then would that not cut down on the number of homosexuals entering the priesthood?

 

[Santi2]

How is the issue handled for married men who want to become Permanent Deacons?

I have no idea. Maybe someone else could help with your query.

 

[Digitonomy]

How is the issue handled for married men who want to become Permanent Deacons?

The wife also goes through the discernment process, to be sure she wants to be married to a deacon.

 

[Digitonomy]

If the Church declares something when it comes to faith and morals (and that’s what this is a matter of), then, whether they determine that priests can marry or they can’t, then we should accept it.

This isn’t a matter of faith and morals. It’s a discipline - the Church has established a rule, and it can loosen or tighten the rule as it sees fit, without any impact on our faith or morals.

Alan55:

The Church decided for a number of reasons to require all priests in the Latin Rite to be celibate, although centuries later, as a result of the agreements with certain formerly Orthodox churches (Maronite, Melchite, etc.),

Nitpick: the Maronites were never Orthodox.

Onyx88:

i hope the church never changes it’s position on this issue ~ as far as having a shortage of priests, i would even support just having one priest to a town if it comes to that…

Many towns don’t even have that.

Onyx88:

i think it would ruin the “uniqueness” of the c.c.

There’s nothing particularly unique about the Latin church in this regard. While I don’t think any of the other Apostolic churches have this rule of celibacy across the board, it is found in religious orders.

Onyx88:

and think of the slippery slope it would create.

I guess we need to ask how slippery has the slope been already, with married priests in the Eastern churches, and to a lesser extent in the Latin church.

 

[mark_a]

For several centuries, including those immediately after the resurrection, there were married priests, including the Apostle Peter. The Church decided for a number of reasons to require all priests in the Latin Rite to be celibate, although centuries later, as a result of the agreements with certain formerly Orthodox churches (Maronite, Melchite, etc.), Easter Rite Catholic churches had married priests. In addition, more recently married pastors converting from Protestant churches were sometimes ordained as Catholic priests. So, it’s hardly nonsense when we speak of married priests. It was the original tradition of the Church and has been permitted for Eastern Rite priests and for some converting Protestant clergy for quite some time. In fact, we expect there to be a number of additional married clergy resulting from the recent invitation of Pope Benedict XVI to traditional Anglicans to become part of the Roman Catholic Church. Already ordained Anglican priests and bishops who do so will be permitted to remain married.

Whatever the Church decides works for me. The real issue is the priest shortage, which I understand is affecting the Eastern Churches too.

Everyone assumes that married Roman Rite priests will have their 2.1 kids like the Protestant ministers and the Catholic Church will live happily ever after.

But with the Catholic teaching about contraception, married Roman Rite priests will very likely have more than the 2.1 kids their Protestant counterparts have. A man with 6, 8, 14 kids needs to dedicate his life to them.

There is enough hipocracy in the Church. Keep the celebate priesthood.

 

[nsper7]

The wife also goes through the discernment process, to be sure she wants to be married to a deacon.

Then couldn’t you do the same thing if you had a married Priesthood? How do the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholics handle it?

 

[Pat_the_elder]

But according to experts, such as Bill Donohue and Cardinal Bertone, this is a homosexual problem. But would not a homosexual be less likely to want to marry a woman and live with her than a heterosexual. So by requiring all priests and bishops to get married, then would that not cut down on the number of homosexuals entering the priesthood?

Other studies refute this. The issue surrounding sexual abuse of children is not linked to the abusers sexuality, more to their need to dominate - its a power thing. The reqiurement you suggest would discriminate against men who would want to remain celibate

 

[sidbrown]

Other studies refute this. The issue surrounding sexual abuse of children is not linked to the abusers sexuality, more to their need to dominate - its a power thing. The reqiurement you suggest would discriminate against men who would want to remain celibate

But these experts, Bill Donohue and Cardinal Bertone say it does not so much involve children as much as older boys and is related to homosexuality. They say it is a homosexual problem. How many homosexuals want to live out their lives with women, being married to them? Some do, but perhaps there are a greater number that do not.