From a news piece about four priests in central Mexico who resigned after getting caught "breaking their celibacy vows" by being involved in "a romantic relationship" or having "fathered children":
David Fernandez, rector of the Jesuit Iberoamerican University's Puebla campus, said the church needs to modernize its practices and rethink its celibacy requirements. He said the celibacy rule came from church leaders, not the Gospel.
"It is a human law that can end at some point," he said.
Although celibacy is a tradition dating to the Roman Catholic Church's earliest days, it was not mandatory until the 11th century.
No word from the rector about whether or not fornication, lust, impurity, passion, evil desire, covetousness, betrayal, and the breaking of solemn vows also need to be rethought and perhaps "modernized" in some way...
They violated not their promise of celibacy, but the obligation of continence.
Posted by: Ed Peters | Wednesday, January 06, 2010 at 07:48 PM
He said the celibacy rule came from church leaders, not the Gospel.
Really?
Matthew 19;
11 He answered, "Not all can accept [this] word, but only those to whom that is granted.
12 Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it." NAB
Might we paraphrase Jesus and say "Whoever can accept this ought to accept it (and seriously consider the priesthood)"? And perhaps the corrollary might be true; Those who cannot accept it should not become priests?
It's a thought.
Posted by: LJ | Wednesday, January 06, 2010 at 07:55 PM
That's how I always understood Matthew 19. Divorce, cheating and child abuse rates among (married) Protestant ministers also show that removal of celibacy is not a solution to the problem, but much more importantly, training in morality.
Posted by: Mark Polo | Wednesday, January 06, 2010 at 11:18 PM
I've read a number of books from ignatius press on clerical celibacy. Two points struck with especial force. One of the earliest regional church councils in Spain (early 300's) taugth celibacy as "What the Apostle's taught and what antiquity practiced ,we should endeavor to keep." The discipline was to remove from the altar a priest who did not practice continence in his marriage. they were expected to live as brother and sister. The second was the simple fact that there was no canon law and thus no codified written church law until the 1000s. The eastern practice was established at trulo in the 700's on the aceptance of a statement at a Coucil that apears to have ben in error.(forget the details but the name pamphilius rings a bell in my now senile ears). In any event, this is gift from Jesus, a grace, a charism and should be sen as such and not a dry legalism. beter days are coming.
Posted by: jack flannery | Thursday, January 07, 2010 at 07:21 AM
When will the whining end??? The priesthood is not forced on anyone, it is a calling. They know going in what it entails. They are supposed to be Jesus among us and more and more I'm having a difficult time seeing them as such. They are not being asked anymore than I as a single Catholic woman. If it were easy it would not be worth it. Where is their spirit of sacrifice? If they have none, they should not be priests. Jesus was a victim. These men do not want to be victims, they want to be worldly. If they do not want to imitate the one they represent why bother. I thought it was 'no pain, no gain' but for them it seems to be, 'no pain, all gain.' God help us and have mercy on us!
Posted by: Maria | Thursday, January 07, 2010 at 09:43 AM
The lost of one priest due to church's rule bring sadness and not necessarily condemnation.
The religion of the cross are all shared by all those who desired to follow Christ.
Murderous attempts were made to St. Benedict because of his rules. The holier you wanted to become the more busy the demons attack on you.
I believed ,before this tragedy,They were flirting
Rationalizing,sinning against purity of mind ect.
which didn't escape the attention of LUCY?
Lacking prayers,yes this can happen.This is an everyday thing among priest.That is why we,common religious should support them with our prayers...
Strengthen,one another? Against our common enemy?
Posted by: lome | Thursday, January 07, 2010 at 09:19 PM