I think that the social concerns of celibacy that are more predominate among protestants would be more general concerns of the effects of long term repression. Like has been discussed celibacy is a gift. The concern is for those who do not have that gift, but try to live as if they do. There is no way to know if this is a real concern or not. Only the HS does as He is the gift giver.
I think this is a really good point. I think our sexually distorted culture has such a difficult time wrapping comprhension around continence that it is difficult to fathom that people could be happy, joyful, and free if they do not feed the desires of the flesh.
The idea that celibacy is equivalent to “long term sexual repression” is a reflection of our distorted understanding of human sexuality. I think we would all agree that Jesus and Paul were not products of “long term sexual repression”, would we not? People with the gift of celibacy do not usually have an absence of sexual desire, nor is it healthy to engage in sexual repression. Instead, the celibate offers his sexuality to God so that God can uses the person to spiritually procreate. Rather than repression, it is a tranformation of libido from physical outlets into spiritual. This is what the Church needs so much, and the main reason the discipline was implemented. We need spiritual procreation, and persons who are “aflame with passion” for the Kingdom, rather than the desires of the flesh.
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The other is that it could alienate or separate the priests from the members of the Church. It reinforces that concept that the priesthood is in a separate class than the common man.
I guess I cannot see how this is the case with a priest any more than it is for any other unmarried person. However, I have often heard complaints from parishioners that they feel left out of the social sphere if they are single, or widowed. Their experience of feeling alienated is a failure of the community to recognize and value their gift, and state in life.
I am not sure what it means to be “a separate class than the common man”. The priest is a person who is set apart for that which is holy, like a consecrated vessel, he is in a different class. I don’t see how this has to alienate people, though. It is the same with monks and nuns, who embrace celibacy but are not in the priesthood. They are in a special class (though I would not characterize it as "separated). They are set apart in a particular way for service to God and the Church. As Paul says “each one has his own gift”.
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Some parishioners could have the thought that the priest cannot relate to them because their lives are so different. Many protestants benefit from the example that protestant ministers set on what it means to be in a loving marriage, and they don't get to see that example from the priests.
Yes, I agree that some people have this thought. I am sure that there are cases where it is true, depending upon the background and expereince of the priest. However, priests are all members of communities too, and have brothers. Their families are not blood relatives, but the same sort of relational issues are always present. Sibling conflict, and problems with superiors (authorities) are pretty much the same whereever you go.
Most parishes have experienced married couples in marriage ministries that are able to provide the guidance and experience that people need in marriages. I think one of the misconceptions is the priest is the be all and end all of every ministry, which is not the case. He is primarily consecrated to provide the sacraments to the faithful. He may not even be a very good leader. That does not lessen the importance of his role in the community.
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I have a different twist on this one. I don't see how the Church would not have authority to make rules for being a priest. It stands to reason that any organization would have the authority to regulate its own membership. I think the problem comes when the Church attempts to justify it using scripture that only has marginal references to ministry.
This is a very good point. Catholics have no need to “justify” any pastoral decisions using scripture, since the pastoral authority of the Church preceded the Scripture. You make a good point that we sometimes get pressed into doing this for our separated brethren who are “bible based”. the Catholic Church is not a “bible based” Church. Our teachings come directly from Jesus, through the Apostles. They are reflected in the Scripture, which was written later, but Scripture is not the Source. Jesus is the Source.
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The problem protestants have with this is that then it becomes something used to condemn protestants and their rules for ministers. It drives another wedge between us, like we need any more.
No, we sure do not. I have never heard any Protestants condemned for not having celibate ministers. I do find it curious that this part of scripture seems to be marginalized. It seems like there is no place at all in Modern American Evangelicalism for those who are “called to be eunuchs for the Kingdom”. Although I have frequented many evangelical communities, I have never seen this way of life practiced or encouraged as a permanent consecrated condition the way Catholics do.
I see a lot of condemnation of Protestants on the issue of authority, and having ministers outside of the Apostolic Succession, but that is not really related to celibacy I don’t think.
