I do acknowledge a certain foreboding about the Anglican accommodation. While the Pope can release future ministerial candidates from mandatory celibacy; he is not strictly enjoined to do so. Given the place of married ministers in their tradition, and the desire for sons to follow fathers into ministry, might we have a precarious situation facing us in the years to come? They will likely want what their fathers had. In addition, I fret somewhat about what the inclusion of married priests will do to the general psyche of our Catholic people. Most people are not theologians able to make important distinctions. There has been little in the way of catechesis for our own people so that they might understand. The line between doctrine and discipline is blurred for many of them. We have already seen them confused or given the wrong ideas from modern novelties like altar girls and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. What happens when more and more married priests enter our ranks? Even if we segregate these men into Anglican usage parishes, they are still Western rite and Catholics can fulfill their Sunday obligation in their churches.
Filed under: Anti-Catholicism, Apologetics, Catholic, Celibacy, Discipleship, Marriage, Priests, Religion, Sacraments, Sexuality |
Blogger Priest 
Dangerous that I’m belligerent! Well, how about this:
[Link to UK Child Abuse Database]
They finally caught up with the man who used to “inspect” my naked body in the showers three times a week, when I was 12 years old. He used to be an Irish Christian Brother and back in 1962 did considerably more damage than just teach English.
Wrong place to post I know, but there are several out there who affected me and have never been caught – why? Because our Cardinal who used to rule with the authority of what you call “The Church of Christ” and who used to condemn homosexuals without mercy had to leave his post because his “Sexual conduct had fallen short of the standard expected of him.” And not only that, but actually did nothing to bring these perverts to book.
Me thinks he doth too much protest his innocence and similarly so with all this stuff that you write about celibacy. Paul
This reminds me of the stories around Pope Francis when he spoke of gay clergy. It was the media that printed story after story as if this was some type of shift in position of the Vatican. It was much to do about nothing. This story offers those, many who are not even Catholic, who want spin the Archbishop’s words into something that connects with their personal agenda.
@PT, “rigid conservatives?” Really? That is the old ploy we see all to often in the secular world of trying to divide people into designated groups as a way of pushing an agenda. Catholics that understand their faith are simply Catholics. Comments like yours is just an attempt to interject discourse.
Well, I trust that the Holy See will allow their daughters to become priestesses also – you seem to have missed that certainty.
Paul
Is Pope Francis About to Eliminate Celibacy?
Rigid conservatives are still falling over themselves to rationalize away the changes that are coming down from Pope Francis. You will have to eat your words, as will Akin.
And you accuse me of being ‘Protestant’ ! Finally it seems that you have had a glimpse of what might be just over the horizon!
Paul