New: "Married Priests? 30 Crucial Questions About Celibacy"

Now available from Ignatius Press:

Married Priests? 30 Crucial Questions About Celibacy

Edited by Dom Arturo Cattaneo

• Also available as an Electronic Book Download

Why do Catholic priests not marry? How can celibacy possibly be so important to the Church, if Jesus did not even require it of his apostles? Cannot such an obligation cause sexual deviance, emotional troubles and even cases of pedophilia? These are three among the numerous possible questions that many people ask themselves, often without finding convincing answers.

In recent years the arguments in favor of openness to married priests seem to be multiplying. Some object that celibacy is not a dogma but only a discipline that originated in the Middle Ages; that it is contrary to nature and hence harmful for a man's psycho-physical equilibrium and the maturation of the human personality. And then, if priests could marry, there would be an increase in vocations.

In this book, seventeen various experts make contributions, responding to these and other burning objections, allowing the reader to discover the value that celibacy has today in the lives of thousands of priests and seminarians.

Among the key topics this book discusses are: History of Priestly Celibacy, What Theology Says on the Celibacy, Emotions and Sexuality, Discerning and Fostering a Vocation, Celibacy in the Life of a Priest, Celibacy and Inculturation, Papal teachings on Celibacy from Pius XI to Benedict XVI.

"I hope that this book will find the widest possible readership, thus contributing to an ever greater appreciation of priestly celibacy as a precious gift of the Spirit of Christ to his Church and received by young men who-like Saint Paul and so many saints-allow themselves to be "won over by Christ".
From the Preface, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy

Comments

[rosanne]

What difference does it make if this book allows "the reader to discover the value that celibacy has today in the lives of thousands of priests and seminarians" while the rest of the world goes to hell for lack of priests?

We have 50,000 churches that have no priest and about 100,000 missions without a priest. Faithful cannot find priests to anoint loved ones or say Mass because having only celibates is deemed more important than having a sufficient supply of priests. In the world, we have twice as many Catholics per priest than we had 40 years ago and the world-wide priest shortage continues to get worse. Meanwhile, good priests called to both priesthood and marriage are kicked out. Jesus had married disciples and "regarding celibacy" Paul "had no command from the Lord." Celibacy simply was not that important.

[Peter L]

Rosanne says Paul "had no command from the Lord."

Indeed he did have Rosanne,for both men and women,who serve the Lord and Church as both priests and nuns.

I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 7:32-35

The Church's position on celibate nuns and priests is Biblical.

[BRIAN ROBERTSON]

Our priests of the Eastern Rite are allowed to marry. Does that make them second-class citizens? I think not.
Brian R

[Little Flower]

Here is the point that, when universally recognized and understood, will make all the difference in the world on this issue:

Priests cannot marry. Married men can be ordained priests.

Why?

Because priesthood is about being put at the service of the community, being "a man for others." A married man called to such a radical reorientation of his life can bring his wife and (established) family alongside him in that ordination.

But once ordained, the man is no longer in a position to form an exclusive bond with one member of the community he serves. That is why even the widowed man cannot remarry.

So, let's keep a preference in canon law for celibate candidates for priesthood, but allow a limited and careful ordination of married men.