Parish Priest: If Church Does Not Adapt To 21st Century It It Doomed!

[Cinette]

Well there is nothing Intrinsicly evil about Married Clergy but keep one thing in mind. The Church actively seeks dedicated Priests who are interested in the Priesthood as a Vocation. A Married Man is divided. He has GOD in his life - but GOD is not the entire focus of his life.

A Priest who is celibate for GOD can more readily advance in the Spiritual life mastering his own senses and subjugating the things of the world in deference to Spirituality. Read the Scriptures. Our Lord and St Paul speak of these very things. Even in the Early Church where Priests were allowed to marry - many of them once ordained were voluntarily celibate and in addition there were many instances where Laity married but were likewise celibate.

This is the reason the Western Church has adopted celibacy and various other vows like Obedience and Poverty etc. To subjugate the cares of the World and advance in the Spiritual life. Unfortunately today - society has over saturated all of us with the “importance” of human sexuality. If you were to honestly investigate this subject - just how important is it really? Does it serve GOD or is it merely more than its made out to be. IMO , its over emphasized and a Priest would not be a better Priest if he were allowed to marry - he would be divided. Most Priests today barely have enough time to do the things they need to do as it is - is it reasonable to think that Adding a Wife and possibly Children into the equasion would make for a stronger Church? “Sorry I cannot give you the Last rites - little Johnny has a soccer game and its for the Championship”

Its a bad idea.

*While I do feel that there could be an Order for married priests, I do believe in celibacy for priests also. Life is so short and the rewards for the men who give up everything for God’s Kingdom and His Church are doing something very worthwhile.

I have known some outstanding priests who left to marry. One priest was so special and his marriage ended in divorce. Could such a priest ever return I wonder?

Cinette*

 

[Bob_Aliano]

The truth is that if the 21st. century doesn’t adapt to the teaching of the Church it is doomed! The priest has backwards, I’m sure it was just an unintended gaffe on his part.

 

[smithm29]

As far as music in the church goes, keep in mind that the lovely Christmas Carol, “Silent Night” was composed for the Guitar. The Guitar has been used for centuries for choral music, including church music.

In addition to the lack of distinction between discipline and doctrine already noted, the quoted section is not really true: He wrote the lyrics, then two years later had them set to music..

 

[PJM]

=Cinette;6894293]*Yes, the old man said that if the Church did not adapt to the 21st Century we are doomed!!!

I prayed “Lord forgive Fr Marmaduke (*) for he knows not what he is saying!”

I know there is a shortage of priests but I believe that it is because most parishes are “maintenance” parishes and not “missionary parishes”. Also good Catholic families product vocations.

I know there is a problem but the problem must be attacked by US!

Would like your views.

Blessings
Cinette * Nom de plume*******

*** As you indicated, the good father in neither the first or last priest to not understand God’s Will or to speak in error. After all they too are human.

Let us pray for such men.

God bless,
Pat***

 

[Cinette]

The truth is that if the 21st. century doesn’t adapt to the teaching of the Church it is doomed! The priest has backwards, I’m sure it was just an unintended gaffe on his part.

*A gaffe which he has repeated more than once! Unfortunately. I attended a meeting once where this was discussed - he didn’t say “adapt” to the 21st century on that occasion but that something had to be done about the lack of vocations and it was suggested that deacons and women should be ordained.

*

 

[GEddie]

*While I do feel that there could be an Order for married priests, I do believe in celibacy for priests also. *

I doubt very much you could do both. The Roman Catholic priesthood is awesome; awesome enough to be worth an awesome sacrifice, celibacy. But once there is a loophole to enter the priesthood without that sacrifice, who would deliberately choose the sacrifice? ISTM that your “married order” would crowd out the celibate priesthood within 2 generations.

IMNAAHO, the sheer unique example of young men giving up a sexual life to follow our LORD is worth far, far more than an increase in numbers of clergy due to creating a loophole for married priests. It is worth preserving.

BTW, by “order” do you mean a religious order and rule? I doubt also that the vow of poverty can be harmonized with raising a family. A man needs material goods to provide for his children.

Life is so short and the rewards for the men who give up everything for God’s Kingdom and His Church are doing something very worthwhile.

Good question for the apologists’ column. ICXC NIKA!

 

[distracted]

*Yes, the old man said that if the Church did not adapt to the 21st Century we are doomed!!!

I prayed “Lord forgive Fr Marmaduke (*) for he knows not what he is saying!”

I know there is a shortage of priests but I believe that it is because most parishes are “maintenance” parishes and not “missionary parishes”. Also good Catholic families product vocations.

I know there is a problem but the problem must be attacked by US!

Would like your views.

Blessings
Cinette * Nom de plume*******

i guess the Father has never read st Mt 16:18?

the Church is never going to be doomed… (well, not utterly anyhow)

 

[Cinette]

I doubt very much you could do both. The Roman Catholic priesthood is awesome; awesome enough to be worth an awesome sacrifice, celibacy. But once there is a loophole to enter the priesthood without that sacrifice, who would deliberately choose the sacrifice? ISTM that your “married order” would crowd out the celibate priesthood within 2 generations.

IMNAAHO, the sheer unique example of young men giving up a sexual life to follow our LORD is worth far, far more than an increase in numbers of clergy due to creating a loophole for married priests. It is worth preserving.

BTW, by “order” do you mean a religious order and rule? I doubt also that the vow of poverty can be harmonized with raising a family. A man needs material goods to provide for his children.

Good question for the apologists’ column. ICXC NIKA!

*Your arguments are very good and I agree with you. I have heard that a number of married priests who subsequently joined the Catholic Church and were ordained, as well as many in the Eastern Churches feel that celibacy is the way to go.

The reality is the world has changed and people have so many “choices”.

A good “missionary parish” and sound practicing families with deeply spiritual lives produce vocations. I heard of a Parish with Perpetual Adoration yielding above average vocations!

*

 

[benedictus2]

*Yes, the old man said that **if the Church did not adapt to the 21st Century we are doomed!!!

---

I prayed “Lord forgive Fr Marmaduke (*) for he knows not what he is saying!”

I know there is a shortage of priests but I believe that it is because most parishes are “maintenance” parishes and not “missionary parishes”. Also good Catholic families product vocations.

I know there is a problem but the problem must be attacked by US!

Would like your views.

Blessings
Cinette * Nom de plume

Hmmm, so this priest knows better than the Founder of the Church Himself?

And he came up with this conclusion no doubt by consulting the crystal ball.

There are many priests who think this way because they have reduced the Church a gathering of like minded people.

The Church is the Body of Christ. He is in effect saying that it is NOT because a church that is NOT the Body would indeed be doomed.

Which raises another problem for him because that means he either thinks Jesus lied or Jesus is not God at all.

I would hazard a guess that he is probably into new age stuff as well.

 

[benedictus2]

The problem we are having in the 21st century are because of what priests like him did in the 20th century trying to force the Church to adopt to that century.

Nailed that one right on the head. Exactly, exactly, exactly!