What's going on with the priesthood orders?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Confused7
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
C

Confused7

Guest
I just wanted to share this because it’s kinda burning on my heart. Recently I was talking to a friend about the Catholic church. We often share thoughts and Biblical facts about the church, the pros and cons of it. The topic of the priests having to give themselves completely to the church without a wife or family came up, so did the topic of the priests that have been convicted of the crimes against the young boys. This is what was noted: the Bible does not say anything about priests having to commit themselves solely to the church (while I think it is an awesome thing for someone to want to commit their whole life to God, the priests living totally celebate is not Biblical). However, if they were to marry, they would be completely kicked out, for it goes against the rules of the church, not the Bible, but the church. Now, as for the priests that have been convicted, were they kicked out? No. All I heard was that they were moved to a different parish. They completely went against what the Bible obviously says not to do, but, they were merely moved. How is this actually going on?! Seriously, there is something completely wrong with that. I truly believe there needs to be some questioning of that matter. I mean no disrespect to the Catholic church, but the Bible is Truth, and that just doesnt’ add up. I mean, really, what’s going on with the priesthood orders these days? We need to be true Bible led Catholics.
 
well you have not given sources for “what you have read” so we have no way to refute them, but if you have been following the news stories about the scandal that has affected 2-3% of Catholic priests in the last 40 years, you will note that these priests have either left the priesthood voluntarily, been removed from the priesthood by canon law procedure, died, or been through the criminal justice system, and millions of dollars paid to victims (and alleged victims who were not required to prove their allegations in court) and procedures put in place to make sure these men are not allowed to become priests in the first place.

If you would like to debate the discipline and charism of priestly celibacy I suggest you first do your homework, return to the CA homepage and check out the relevant tracts and library articles, then come back for a meaningful discussion.
 
It wasn’t official Church policy to “move” the accused priests to another parish. It was basically a bad decision by a Bishop (Cardinal Law, for example) to try to cover up the abuse instead of report it to legal authorites, thus the “scandal” was born.
 
40.png
Jabronie:
It wasn’t official Church policy to “move” the accused priests to another parish. It was basically a bad decision by a Bishop (Cardinal Law, for example) to try to cover up the abuse instead of report it to legal authorites, thus the “scandal” was born.
Click to expand...
Actually that is not very acurate either. Cardinal Law and the others really wern’t doing anything malicious as they were only following the advice of the “experts” which everyone expects them to do.

In anycase. Concerning the OP it is impossible for a person to receive Holy Orders and then get married. It is a violation of the Sacraments and for this one cannot be a priest if they are living in public sin that destroys the integrity of the Sacrament of Marriage. As far as the relation of this to the scandels you referenced you are discussion two issues that are unrelated.
 
40.png
Confused7:
I mean no disrespect to the Catholic church, but the Bible is Truth, and that just doesnt’ add up.
Click to expand...
It doesn’t add up for you because you don’t have the complete picture in the proper perspective. It adds up beautifully otherwise.

First, the Bible is not the end-all. In fact, it isn’t even the beginning. It certainly supports all the Traditions of the Church, however.

The Bible came from the Catholic Church documenting what Sacred Tradition had held to be true from the time of Christ until it was finally recorded by pen.

Next, follow Puzzlemania’s advice. Read up on the celibacy of Roman Catholic priests and you will have a fuller understanding of the gift these men are offering and why.

Here’s a start:

The Biblical Foundation of Priestly Celibacy
" In other words, it could be said that the *obligation *of continence (or of celibacy) became canon law only in the fourth century but that, before that, from apostolic times, the ideal of living in continence (or in celibacy) was already held up to the ministers of the Church, and that this ideal was indeed deeply felt and lived as a requirement by quite a number (Tertullian and Origen, for instance) but was not yet imposed on all clerics in major orders. It was a vital principle, a seed, clearly present from apostolic times but which gradually then developed until the ecclesiastical legislation of the fourth century.4"
Go to vatican.va enter “Celibacy” in the search field and you’ll find several other documents to read through.

Bottom line, following the example set by Christ Himself, the priest weds himself to the Church.

1 Thessalonians 2
4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.
5For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed–God is witness–
6nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.
7But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.
8Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God** but also our own lives**, because you had become very dear to us.
9For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
 
Confused, I think if you read Paul’s letters especially 1 Corinthians you will find a scriptural base for celebicy. Also, didn’t talk about leaving house, home and family for the sake of the Kingdom?

You are correct in saying that the Celebicy, practiced in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, is a discipline and could be changed.
However, the Church’s belief this is the best way for priest and bishops and pope, better but certainly not easier.

I think to link the abuses of priest and Celibacy, misses the point and to further link cleibacy to the scandleous behavior of some bishops totally misses the point. If they were linked then I believe the root cause of the Church’s trouble isn’t celibacy, rather, it is a lack of faith in God’s graces to livr the celibit life (it may still be a major cause of our problems)
 
Also, as I mentioned a person who has already received Holy Orders as a Deacon, Priest or Bishop cannot receive the Sacrament of matrimony so in effect even if tomorrow the discipline were to change it would only effect those who have not received the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
 
Puzzleannie-I thank you for your loving response to my question. I’m not here to debate though, just merely learn and hear some opinions, that’s all.

YingYangMom and Fix-Huh…so which is more important to the church, the Holy Bible or the Catechism?

I am relating the topics of celebacy and the priests’ scandles because of the outcomes of each.

The priests that suddenly wanted to get married and the priests that suddenly became interested in children both had totally different responses.

I was completely shocked to hear of these outcomes and wanted to get some insight from others. I will definately look into the Catechism on the celebacy topic, and by all means, I will surely bring facts around next time I want more opinions.

God Bless All!
 
There was once a catholic exorcist priest, who fell in love with a female psychologist, and then decided he would marry her. He did later marry her, but was still a priest. When the pope found out the priest was immidiately defrocked. Despite this the priest (sorry I will try and get his name) appealed to the pope numerous times, and eventually the pope let him back into the priesthood, while he was still married.
 
why do we argue so long and hard over if somthing is biblical or not? Its great and fine when somthing can be found in scripture, but when Rome speaks on how we are to go about living our faith, i obey as Rome has authority enough. Christianity is not a religion of the book. we have a book, true, but its not like we need permission or justification from the bible to do every little thing.

I think clerical celebacy is a fine custom in the west and I applaud those men who make that sacrifice for the sake of the kingdom. The oriental chruches have their own customs that are just as wonderful and when nessessary there are variences in the rule in the west.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top