Monday, 17 January 2011

Sacred Union

I see no grounds for imagining that there would be more priests if the entirely non-doctrinal celibacy rule were relaxed further, since there is no global shortage, and since, much as a certain generation will never admit this, sex was not invented at 1970s rock festivals.

But I really do defy anyone from the comfort of, say, Western Europe or North America to tell the Byzantine Rite Catholics of Romania, Ukraine or the Holy Land, or the Maronite Catholics, that they are in any sense less Catholic because of their routinely married priests.

As for the Ordinariate, the ones with any inclination towards marriage will be the very least of anyone's worries.
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13 comments:

  1. love the girls17 January 2011 at 19:03

    On the other hand, I suspect that the married deacons in our diocese would make better parish priests, than the priests we have.

    One needs go no further than consideration of all the inane homilies to know most parish priests have no idea of how to shepherd their flock.

    The married deacons on the other hand, will not have spent their lives being coddled to, and would not be homosexuals, and would typically be men who are understand their parishioners.

    Not that going to happen, but what if it did?

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  2. David Lindsay17 January 2011 at 19:07

    Be careful what you wish for.

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  3. Anonymous17 January 2011 at 20:15

    Pray tell, why is celibacy for priests 'entirely non-doctrinal' whereas that for bishops seemingly is doctrinal?

    From the Vatican press statement on the English Ordinariate:

    "For doctrinal reasons the Church does not, in any circumstances, allow the ordination of married men as Bishops."

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  4. love the girls17 January 2011 at 22:29

    What I "wish for" isn't in the cards.

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  5. David Lindsay18 January 2011 at 14:35

    Ask the Byzantine Rite Catholics of Romania, Ukraine or the Holy Land, or the Maronite Catholics.

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  6. Northern Catholic18 January 2011 at 14:53

    You are right, how is it suddenly an issue now, after all these years? But the Eastern Catholic churches are very traditional in their liturgy and spirituality, a major orthodox bulwark in the Church, complete with married priests.

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  7. Anonymous18 January 2011 at 16:37

    "Ask the Byzantine Rite Catholics..."

    In other words, you don't know?

    I guess Jesus hadn't come across that doctrine when he ordained Peter?

    Or else Peter wasn't ordained?

    I guess Paul hadn't come across it either when he advised that bishops should only have one wife?

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  8. David Lindsay18 January 2011 at 16:55

    Clever you for discovering these things. We poor, simple Papists have missed them for two thousand years.

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  9. Northern Catholic18 January 2011 at 17:07

    In which century does he believe that the Church was founded? In the 16th, the 17th, the 18th, the 19th, the 20th, or the 21st? And by whom?

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  10. Anonymous18 January 2011 at 17:44

    Sorry, forgot you guys aren't used to reading Scripture.

    I'll wait until head-office feeds you your lines.

    Surprised you've time to deal with my comments - you have so many others awaiting your attention.

    BTW you should drop your dim Northern side-kick - he's only holding you back

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  11. David Lindsay18 January 2011 at 17:51

    Answer his question.

    Reading Scripture? We wrote it.

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  12. Anonymous18 January 2011 at 18:06

    Crikey, does God know? He's collecting the royalties.

    Answer mine.

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  13. David Lindsay18 January 2011 at 18:08

    Oh, no, He isn't...

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