The role of priests' and deacons' wives in the Eastern Tradition

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I recall listening to ‘Thought for Today’ on BBC 4 some years ago when a well known Rabbi by the name Lionel Blue was in the chair and came out with a very profound arguement where by he said the Catholic church should emulate the Eastern rite and allow the Secular Clergy (parish priests) to marry. Those aspiring to high office are taken from the Religious Orders such as Cistercians or even Carthusians.
In a completely off-topic post, Lionel Blue also contributed a prayer for the lonely to a Reform Jewish prayer book for night prayer which formed the basis of the Beatles song ‘Eleanor Rigby’, which also includes a lonely priest writing his sermon. As a gay man in a religion which forbids same-sex relationships, Rabbi Blue clearly understood loneliness himself as well. Completely irrelevant, but of passing interest.
 
We as Roman Catholics and Eastern Rite Catholics have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to gain by listening to the ranting or even advice from people of other Faiths.

“Why would you be so harsh?!”

Because the Catholic Church is the SOLE possesor and inheritor of the FULLNESS of the truth left to us by God Himself: Jesus Christ.

To deny the uniqueness of the church’s perfect possesion of this truth is to deny the Church; and to deny the Church is to deny Christ: “He who hears you hears me…” “Bad company corrupts good morals…”

Buddhism has nothing to teach us.
Hinduism has nothing to teach us.
Atheism has nothing to teach us.
Protestantism has nothing to teach us.
Orthodoxy has nothing to teach us.
Judaism has nothing to teach us.

Why?

Because their “truth” belongs to US by right of being Catholic Christians: We posses and are possesed ourselves by he who said "I am the way, the truth and the light. NO man comes to the Father but by me.

THis does not mean that we do not love, it does not mean we do not respect. But any “respect” we have for other religions “truth” is really a respect for our own (Catholic) truth hid in the midst of confusion and the darkness of the human heart and mind, manifesting in the confused devotion of those who try to be “religious” but ultimately fail, because we are all dead the moment we are born. The FEW (and it is very few) who struggle against their own ignorance will not go unrewarded. But they are FEW.

You see, GOd calls us to Truth: Not pluralistic syncretism.

So that Rabbi Should look to his synagogue. We Papists will run the Church according to the Traditions of our Fathers.
 
We as Roman Catholics and Eastern Rite Catholics have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to gain by listening to the ranting or even advice from people of other Faiths.

“Why would you be so harsh?!”

Because the Catholic Church is the SOLE possesor and inheritor of the FULLNESS of the truth left to us by God Himself: Jesus Christ.

To deny the uniqueness of the church’s perfect possesion of this truth is to deny the Church; and to deny the Church is to deny Christ: “He who hears you hears me…” “Bad company corrupts good morals…”

Buddhism has nothing to teach us.
Hinduism has nothing to teach us.
Atheism has nothing to teach us.
Protestantism has nothing to teach us.
Orthodoxy has nothing to teach us.
Judaism has nothing to teach us.

Why?

Because their “truth” belongs to US by right of being Catholic Christians: We posses and are possesed ourselves by he who said "I am the way, the truth and the light. NO man comes to the Father but by me.

THis does not mean that we do not love, it does not mean we do not respect. But any “respect” we have for other religions “truth” is really a respect for our own (Catholic) truth hid in the midst of confusion and the darkness of the human heart and mind, manifesting in the confused devotion of those who try to be “religious” but ultimately fail, because we are all dead the moment we are born. The FEW (and it is very few) who struggle against their own ignorance will not go unrewarded. But they are FEW.

You see, GOd calls us to Truth: Not pluralistic syncretism.

So that Rabbi Should look to his synagogue. We Papists will run the Church according to the Traditions of our Fathers.
Well Leo,

An interesting post. Forgive me, but why am I thinking of ostriches.
 
An ostrich denies reality: “I can’t see you you don’t exist.”

A Catholic says the fullness of reality exists SOLELY within the Catholic Church.

All seeking elsewhere merely reveals dissatisfaction and really spiritual immaturity on the part of the seeker.

For example, the Catholic Charismatic mvement was borne out of an act of disobedience to church teaching: College students in 1967 Attending the Worship and prayper meetings of Protestant Pentecostals and having “hands imposed” for the “reception” of the Holy SPirit.

These actions are sins against faith because they deny the unique fullness of truth in the Catholic church and condone the actions of those who are, if not formally, at least materially heretics and completely betray the Church.

And THIS is the beginning of Church movements that are nothing protestantized neo-anglican services.

THIS treachery is what gets us to where we are: A Church divided on many issues that doesn’t even look the same as it did 40 years ago!
 
Wrong!

An ostrich can be blind to reality.
It is in us all to be forever watchful
 
And that has what to do with the price of tea in China…?
 
Disappointing, although not altogether an unpredictable response.
 
Keep on responding like that and you are showing how shallow and ostrich like you really are.
Try stimulating the members with reasoned debate rather that you previous attempts.
 
This is pathetic.

I’d say Orthodoxy has some stuff we can learn, mainly to do with different ways of expressing the same things.
 
Considering the only difference that is supposed to exist between Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholics is the commemoration of the Pope… I’d say there is plenty of good things to learn from the Eastern Orthodox.
 
This is pathetic.

I’d say Orthodoxy has some stuff we can learn, mainly to do with different ways of expressing the same things.
Do not understand the grammar.
Is the pathetic you are referring to your own answer??
 
Let us expand the debate.
I believe that the Catholic Church can only succeed by allowing it’s Secular Clergy (parish priests) to marry. And I would further say that those who are chosen for high office are chosen from the Monastic orders (as I still believe celibacy has a special place in the church)
In the Eastern tradition married men may be ordained. In the Latin tradition married men may only be ordained to the diaconate (although there are pastoral provisions for married Anglican priests).

Under canon law (which restates Tradition) a cleric may not marry. I don’t see any room to “expand the debate”.

Deacon Ed
 
In the Eastern tradition married men may be ordained. In the Latin tradition married men may only be ordained to the diaconate (although there are pastoral provisions for married Anglican priests).

Under canon law (which restates Tradition) a cleric may not marry. I** don’t see any room to “expand the debate”.**
Deacon Ed
Why do I think of an ‘uphill struggle’ when people say things like the above highlighted.
 
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