Married Priests Will Always Be an Exception [Zenit]

[Catholic_Press]

Interview With Theologian on the Foundations of Celibacy

By Carmen Elena Villa

ROME, MARCH 9, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Married priests are an exception and the Church is increasingly convinced that they must remain so, according to a spiritual theology professor at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.

Father Laurent Touze explained the foundations of priestly celibacy when he spoke at a two-day conference held last week at Rome’s Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. The conference, “Priestly Celibacy: Theology and Life,” was sponsored by the Congregation for the Clergy as an event for the Year for Priests.

ZENIT spoke with Father Touze about the exceptions to priestly celibacy and the future of celibacy for the Church.

More…

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Just a note, they are an exception in the Latin Church where the Code of Canon Law does not allow for them.

For the Eastern Churches, their code, the Code of Canons for Oriental Churches does allow for them as long a the Church’s particular law says so.

 

[Ocarm]

For the Eastern Churches, their code, the Code of Canons for Oriental Churches does allow for them as long a the Church’s particular law says so.

Although according to Father Touze, this is only because the Eastern Church has got it wrong in relation to church documents that they think would permit married priests:
*
there has been a manipulation of texts and I believe a bad translation that the Eastern Church, which has separated from Rome and has recognized that what they had declared contrary to tradition, could be accepted.*

I have to say that I thought the interview was long on assertion and short on citation, and despite attempts to be respectful towards the Eastern churches, comes over as a little patronising to me. But other people may disagree. I’m not questioning the father’s intent, just the exclusivity of his sentiments.

 

[Cowfold]

I believe the future of the church lies in permitting the secular clergy (parish priests) the freedom to marry. The celibacy should retaind for those who look for the monastic religious

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Although according to Father Touze, this is only because the Eastern Church has got it wrong in relation to church documents that they think would permit married priests:
*
there has been a manipulation of texts and I believe a bad translation that the Eastern Church, which has separated from Rome and has recognized that what they had declared contrary to tradition, could be accepted.*

I have to say that I thought the interview was long on assertion and short on citation, and despite attempts to be respectful towards the Eastern churches, comes over as a little patronising to me. But other people may disagree. I’m not questioning the father’s intent, just the exclusivity of his sentiments.

So in this part of the interview he is speaking of the Orthodox, it does not appear that he is even aware of Eastern Catholics, or does he make a point on them later?

I usually try to stay away from this kind of stuff so I have not read the whole article.

 

[curlycool89]

I believe the future of the church lies in permitting the secular clergy (parish priests) the freedom to marry. The celibacy should retaind for those who look for the monastic religious

I don’t really think it’ll make a difference. The Orthodox and Eastern Catholics and Anglicans are all going through the same vocation shortages even though they have married clergy.

 

[Ocarm]

So in this part of the interview he is speaking of the Orthodox, it does not appear that he is even aware of Eastern Catholics, or does he make a point on them later?

Hmmm, yes, I may have misunderstood the context, whereby the father was speaking only about the orthodox specifically. Which makes it kind of worse in that he isn’t even acknowledging the married priests of the Eastern Churches within the Catholic church.

 

[dnu]

I’m married…I’d love to be a Priest…but, I’m entering the Latin Rite, so that’s not an option for me

 

[JReducation]

If I am understanding the subject and the audience, he’s talking about the Roman Church and his target audience are Roman Catholics. He’s not talking about the Eastern Churches or to the Eastern Catholics.

He makes a quick reference to the Orthodox when he speaks about translatioin of certain texts being inaccuate. But the reference seems to be to the fact that the Orthodox have equated celibacy with religious life rather than celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom undertaken by both secular and religioius. He tries to be polite about it. I don’t know if he is quite successful at it.

In the Eastern Catholic Churches we do have celibate secular priests. Not all celibates are religious. The Eastern Catholics are not his subject or target audience.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Musicadmirer]

There’s a reason why Holy Matrimony and Holy Orders are separate Sacraments.
They will never mix. God wills for them to be just that.

 

[Mattapoisett64]

There’s a reason why Holy Matrimony and Holy Orders are separate Sacraments.
They will never mix. God wills for them to be just that.

Except that married men being ordained as deacons validly receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

 

[JReducation]

There’s a reason why Holy Matrimony and Holy Orders are separate Sacraments.
They will never mix. God wills for them to be just that.

That’s theologically incorrect. Marriage and Holy Orders are not mutually exclusive. You may be confusing Holy Orders with religious life.

Marriage and religious life are mutually exclusive. There is nothing that the Church can do to change that. Only those who are not married can become consecrated religious male or female. If a person is married, even if they are divorced, the vows novitiate is invalid. Without a novitiate, you cannot make vows as a brother, sister or nun.

Marriage and Holy Orders have never been mutually exclusive. We have always ordained married men in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. We have ordained them to the diaconate and to the priesthood. In the Roman rite, we have a discipline called celibacy for men who want to become priests. But that is only for some rites, including the Roman rite and some of the Eastern rites, but not many.

Married men are not allowed to be bishops in any rite of the Catholic or the Orthodox Churches. God did not intend for Holy Orders and Marriage to be mutually exclusive for every priest, only for those in the Roman rite. But the Church has the authority to dispense with the celibacy requirement and ordain married men to the Roman rite. That’s how she does with the priests who have converted from the Anglican churches. They continue to be married and have all the marital rights of any man, if you get my meaning.

However, no ordained man: deacon, priest or bishop can marry. That’s the difference. So if you are married when you are ordained and you are widowed, you remain celibate. Because you are ordained, you cannot marry.

Once again: religious life and marriage are mutually exclusive and the Church cannot change that. It’s not in her authority.

Marriage and Holy Orders are not mutually exclusive. However, those men whom God calls to be priests in the certain rites, such as the Roman rite, he calls to be celibate. He also calls many other men to be celibate in the other rites too. I’m speaking about men who are not religious.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Musicadmirer]

Yes, I forgot about the deacons being considered a type of ‘holy order’.

My point still stands being that marriage and the priesthood do not go together.
God has it the way He wills it. No one can change that.

 

[JReducation]

Yes, I forgot about the deacons being considered a type of ‘holy order’.

My point still stands being that marriage and the priesthood do not go together.
God has it the way He wills it. **No one can change that./**QUOTE]

Yes, the Holy See can change it. It is not a dogma or a doctrine. The doctrine is chastity, not celibacy. Celibacy is a canonical discipline that only binds priests in the Roman Church. All the other Catholic Churches ordain married men to the priesthood and so do the Orthodox Churches. All of them have valid and licit ordinations.

Please don’t tell the laity this, because it confuses peoople. The Church is very clear that celibacy is a law, not a matter of faith. She is also very clear that the law only applies to one segment of the Catholic Church, the Roman Rite, not the rest of the Catholic Church. Finally, the Church is also very clear that the Orthodox priests who are married are validly and licitly ordained because they have apostolic succession. Therefore, their priests and our own are united and in communion with each other in what is called Communion in Sacris, meaning that they are part of the same priesthood.

If you travel to places such as Turkey, you will find Catholic priests who are married. These priests belong to either the Byzantine Rites, the Eastern Churches or the Uniate Churches. All of them are in full communion with Rome and are Catholic.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF