Priestly celibacy, not Deacon celibacy?

[Catholic4Jesus]

It is odd…considering the man who is considered to be the very first pope was a married man!
Peter was married, right?
As were some of the other apostles?
(but the ones who had wives left them, yes? Does that mean they got divorced, or did they just separate from their wives and leave them?)

No, the law of celibacy was not in effect at that time. It did not become binding until the 1100’s. Clerical Celibacy is not a dogma, but a discipline and therefore can change in the future.

 

[einna]

It seems as if some of you guys were taking what I was saying out of context. I do NOT support Dr. Peters, nor am I against the discipline of allowing married men to become deacons. I was just curious as to why the Church permits married men to become deacons but not priests or bishops. That’s all. If the Holy See says it’s okay, then it’s okay with me.

I think some think that if a priest is married they will be torn or ca not be as focused on his ministry. I would think that would be a very difficult thing to juggle. That why I wondered how long time deacons could do it because they may not have as many pressing family issue, but once you have kids that really never stops.

I do think younger people might be more understanding of the time constraint of married priest, and not as demanding as our parents, who expected priest to drop everything for their parishioners. We have one at our church that came from the Episcopal church and he has worked out wonderfully for our parish.

 

[Lapey]

This seems to make sense to me, although as I understand it deacons aren’t actually said to act in the person of Christ at all. Which seems to strengthen your point.

Wikipedia:

That said, while married men can be ordained to the permanent diaconate, deacons do not (ordinarily) remarry.

Wiki??? Just kidding. I’ve heard it put this way; a priest stands in the Person of Christ the High Priest while the deacon stands in the Person of Christ the Servant.

There are three distinct levels of the hierarchy, bishop, priest and deacon. All share in the ministry of Christ, deacon being the lowest rank. The bishop holds the fullness of the Priesthood of Christ. Both priest and deacon has faculties to perform certain ministries of their rank by way of the priesthood of Christ through the local ordinary; the Diocesan Bishop.

 

[triumphguy]

I assume you weren’t having Dr. Peters over for supper…

Sure why not? I can have a plesant evening with someone I don’t agree with 100%.

Maybe I’d also invite Bishop Robert Carlson (Chairman of the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations) and Archbishop Timothy Broglio (Chairman of the Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance). They could bring a copy of the following with them.

canonlaw.info/PDF-USCCB%20re%20277.pdf

In recent months, published opinions have appeared in scholarly journals and on Internet blogs that have raised questions about the observance of diaconal continence by married permanent deacons in the Latin Catholic Church. The opinions have suggested that the clerical obligation to observe “perfect and perpetual continence for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” (c. 277, §1 CIC) remains binding upon married permanent deacons, despite the dispensation provided to them in canon law from the obligation to observe celibacy (c. 1042, 1° CIC).

In response to repeated requests for an authoritative clarification on this matter, the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations and the Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance requested the assistance of the USCCB President in seeking a clarification from the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.

Earlier this week, we were informed that Cardinal-designate Francesco Coccopalmerio, President of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, with Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta, Secretary, has forwarded to Cardinal-designate Timothy M. Dolan the Pontifical Council’s observations on the matter (Prot. N. 13095/2011). The observations, which were formulated in consultation with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, clarify that married permanent deacons are not bound to observe perfect and perpetual continence, as long as their marriage lasts.

Should you have any questions about this response, please contact Reverend W. Shawn McKnight, Executive Director of the Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations. In addition, please feel free to share this response with those within your diocesan curia who will find it helpful.