Pope Francis wants to change two major Catholic laws he sees as 'archaic'

  • Thread starter Thread starter epower
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
E

epower

Guest
**Pope Francis wants to change two major Catholic laws he sees as ‘archaic’ **

catholic.org/news/hf/faith/story.php?id=59123

[snip:]
In a private conversation with his longtime friend from Buenos Aires, Oscar Crespo, Pope Francis reportedly revealed his plans to change important “archaic” parts of the Catholic rules. Crespo claims the Pope intends to overturn the “centuries-old ban” on Catholic priests from getting married and to lift the banishment of divorcees from the Catholic church.
[/snip]
I am not sure what to make of this. I know that the church needs more priests. Will this open a can of worms? What if a priest has multiple marriages, etc.
 
epower said:
**Pope Francis wants to change two major Catholic laws he sees as ‘archaic’ **

catholic.org/news/hf/faith/story.php?id=59123

[snip:]
In a private conversation with his longtime friend from Buenos Aires, Oscar Crespo, Pope Francis reportedly revealed his plans to change important “archaic” parts of the Catholic rules. Crespo claims the Pope intends to overturn the “centuries-old ban” on Catholic priests from getting married and to lift the banishment of divorcees from the Catholic church.
[/snip]
I am not sure what to make of this. I know that the church needs more priests. Will this open a can of worms? What if a priest has multiple marriages, etc.
Click to expand...
In my opinion the Roman Rite should allow faithful Catholic married men to join the seminary. Not a priest get married.
 
adawgj said:
In my opinion the Roman Rite should allow faithful Catholic married men to join the seminary.
Click to expand...
Even women attend and teach in seminaries. I would think married men are allowed to study in the seminaries, though maybe not all of them.
 
epower said:
**Pope Francis wants to change two major Catholic laws he sees as ‘archaic’ **

catholic.org/news/hf/faith/story.php?id=59123

[snip:]
In a private conversation with his longtime friend from Buenos Aires, Oscar Crespo, Pope Francis reportedly revealed his plans to change important “archaic” parts of the Catholic rules. Crespo claims the Pope intends to overturn the “centuries-old ban” on Catholic priests from getting married and to lift the banishment of divorcees from the Catholic church.
[/snip]
I am not sure what to make of this. I know that the church needs more priests. Will this open a can of worms? What if a priest has multiple marriages, etc.
Click to expand...
You have two different issues going on here…
First the matter of divorced Catholics.
It is not true that divorced Catholics are “banished” from the Catholic Church. The issue here is not those who are divorced but rather those who are remarried. Making changes to this could indeed be opening a can of worms…but we will have to see how the Holy Spirit moves on the matter.

Second is the matter of Married priests.
This is something that has been discussed here often. The Eastern Rite Catholic Churches already allow for married priests…and the Latin Rite Church has married priests too. the vow of celibacy is a discipline - not a doctrine - and can be changed.
These sorts of articles, comments etc…can be seen as a way for the Holy Father to “test the waters” so to speak - get conversation out there among the faithful and the clergy - and then just see where things go.

I fully expect to see more married priests in the future. Perhaps beginning with an offer to married deacons with grown children to become ordained.

Peace
James
 
Christ’s words are crystal clear regarding marriage.

If anything could be done, it would be to speed up the anullment process if that’s possible.

Otherwise…

Receiving communion in mortal sin seems like a poor proposition to me. I wonder what St. Paul would have to say?
 
Why are people giving credence to what someone might, perhaps, have said (or said something like this) in unknown context, in a private conversation that may or may not have even happened? Do we really want CAF to degenerate to the level of a gossip column? This reminds me of those posts that say St. Pope John told his cook he regretted ever calling Vatican II, or that Martin Luther secretly told his gardener that he was guided by Satan in setting up Protestantism, and you know what Eisenhower told his golfing buddy about those UFOs they were covering up.

Pope Francis is giving us lots to consider and respond to in his public talks.
 
commenter said:
Why are people giving credence to what someone might, perhaps, have said (or said something like this) in unknown context, in a private conversation that may or may not have even happened? Do we really want CAF to degenerate to the level of a gossip column? This reminds me of those posts that say St. Pope John told his cook he regretted ever calling Vatican II, or that Martin Luther secretly told his gardener that he was guided by Satan in setting up Protestantism, and you know what Eisenhower told his golfing buddy about those UFOs they were covering up.

Pope Francis is giving us lots to consider and respond to in his public talks.
Click to expand...
This.
 
commenter said:
Why are people giving credence to what someone might, perhaps, have said (or said something like this) in unknown context, in a private conversation that may or may not have even happened? Do we really want CAF to degenerate to the level of a gossip column? This reminds me of those posts that say St. Pope John told his cook he regretted ever calling Vatican II, or that Martin Luther secretly told his gardener that he was guided by Satan in setting up Protestantism, and you know what Eisenhower told his golfing buddy about those UFOs they were covering up.

Pope Francis is giving us lots to consider and respond to in his public talks.
Click to expand...
Maybe I need to make a website to sell my ocean-front property in Arizona, since so many people believe everything they see on the internet . . .
 
I predict this thread will be deleted in less than 8 hours. 🙂 My milk man said he overheard this conversation between two high ranking cardinals at the Vatican but on vacation in Baja.

👍
 
commenter said:
Why are people giving credence to what someone might, perhaps, have said (or said something like this) in unknown context, in a private conversation that may or may not have even happened?
Click to expand...
Because evidence has shown these things to be true so many times. You can’t stop the “rumor mill” until you reduce it’s accuracy.

I have no opinion on this particular subject (I would describe myself as generally supportive of an orthodox perspective) other than to explain why people perpetuate rumors. Especially if or when they support their agenda. The world is pretty passive aggressive and rumors are effective in that environment. It an easy way to “test the water” and guage public opinion/reaction with minimal risk.
 
Hi,
I feel he can change the priest marriage law but the divorce law comes from Jesus and will still need scrutiny of the annulment.
Paul said if a man can stay celibate he should but if he cannot control his desires he should get married.
Jesus said God hates divorce, he only allowed it because of your ignorance.
I am sure the Pope will work this out w councils. He chooses peace as the mark of success of the matter. A vow is a Vow. if the marriage vow is removed in the ceremony, then that is another situation.
Priests should get married. The option should be there. The Episcopalian converts have wives and they live amongst the celibate priests. I wonder if they have jobs plus the priesthood??Logistics is tough.
tweedlealice
 
JRKH said:
and the Latin Rite Church has married priests too.
Click to expand...
True, but converted Protestant ministers mostly, if not all.

Those are men who already have had sufficient seminary training and cleric formation. And probably have stable marriages as well.
 
I don’t doubt Pope Francis might consider further adjusting the discipline (not doctrine) on priestly celibacy, since the 2 previous popes did just that. The issue is being publicly discussed, and also perhaps privately discerned. As it has been for decades. But it’s silly to think he uses the rumor mill to “test the waters”. Popes rely on other guidance.

I see that the info in the OP was a phone call with his best friend. Understand Pope Francis has 312 documented best friends, that we know about. You see other reports reaching conclusions about the Catholic Church based on what Pope Francis’ top spiritual adviser said in the elevator. Pope Francis has only 73 top spiritual advisers.

There is a variation of the story of the “boy who cried wolf”. If people want to dilute the real public papal teaching all they need to do is to keep passing on this stuff.
 
I don’t understand the fuss.

The divorce aren’t currently banished so nothing to change there except education to make them aware. If he said “the remarried” then I’d be more worried.

Priests in the East are allowed to be married. Often when people say “Priests should be allowed to get married”, what they really mean is we shouldn’t expect all priests to be celibate not so much that the marriage should be allowed after ordination. Simply because most people don’t realise there is a difference so don’t know to make the distinction. I don’t want to lose priestly celibacy in the West. I don’t think it will solve the priest shortage. If the Pope feels let this way by the Spirit however then he will have my loyalty and support.
 
CatholicSheila said:
I don’t understand the fuss.
Click to expand...
Neither do I…
The divorce aren’t currently banished so nothing to change there except education to make them aware.
Click to expand...
👍
If he said “the remarried” then I’d be more worried.
Click to expand...
Correct - if there is a “can of worms” in any of this - - this is where it would show up.
Priests in the East are allowed to be married. Often when people say “Priests should be allowed to get married”, what they really mean is we shouldn’t expect all priests to be celibate not so much that the marriage should be allowed after ordination. Simply because most people don’t realize there is a difference so don’t know to make the distinction. ** I don’t want to lose priestly celibacy in the West. I don’t think it will solve the priest shortage.**
Click to expand...
My view is a bit different…I support changing the rules on this.
It may not “solve” the priest shortage…but it couldn’t hurt…😃
It would definitely increase the “pool” of potential priests.
If the Pope feels let this way by the Spirit however then he will have my loyalty and support.
Click to expand...
Amen…

Peace
James
 
The first point is fine. It is perfectly permissible to visit the question of priestly celibacy. But even if the law of celibacy were to be revised, I doubt the Pope would undo the most ancient discipline. Most likely, it will be permitted to ordain married men as priests, but in all likelihood: (1) unmarried and widowed priests can never marry; and (2) only celibates will become bishops. This will bring the Latin church in line with the vast majority of other churches.

On the second, while I’m not sure what “banished” means, if they’re talking about Communion for the divorced and remarried (i.e. without a decree of nullity), this is something of divine ordinance; it cannot be changed. If the Pope attempts to even relax this law, there’s a good chance the charism of infallibility may kick in (possibly at the risk to his own life). I know the limited scope of infallibility, but even passing this kind of law would strongly undermine the Church’s teaching and her moral authority, such that I couldn’t put it beyond God to enforce infallibility in this case. I do trust the Holy Spirit to guide the Pope in this matter. The only thing is, this “guidance” may come in the form of his incapacity or death, which I would hate to see happen.

BTW, I’m only talking hypotheticals. As far as I’m concerned, I consider these as only unfounded rumours.
 
I don’t believe this article and am surprised that its permitted here on CAF. Its one thing to allow married men to become Priests. After all this was done for the first thousand years of Catholicism but the Church cannot and has not EVER allowed Priests to be married.

This would cause a schism imho.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top