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aaron klinefelter
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Oh - and warning - this is a LONG post. I'm sure not all will make it to the end. Only those who persevere. God's Grace be with you. :) So, what did I see and what am I talking about today? The Priesthood, in particular celibacy or married life as it relates to the Priesthood in the Catholic Church. First, here's the phenomenon I've observed for some time: In the Catholic world, any time anyone seriously mentions that the Church reconsider the discipline of a celibate Priesthood, a couple of things are attached to it. 1) They usually accompany cries for other changes which are not in the category of "disciplines" and are really of a different nature altogether. And 2) Immediately upon seeing anyone mention this, the more conservative elements of the Church (at least the ones who write publicly or blog or who are journalists) get a little snarky in their dismissal of any such ridiculous notion. As I said, interesting. Has anyone else noticed this? And get me straight here, I'm not asking the two sides above mentioned to get on here and fight it out. You'll see that more clearly here in a minute. So, I understand that because there are often "riders" connected to organized groups who call for a reconsideration of the discipline of the celibate Priesthood, that there would be that connection made in the minds of those who hear this being talked about. I get that. I have a question (well a couple) though: Are there no relatively theologically conservative Catholics out there who are genuinely talking about this who are not, themselves, connecting it with any other agendas (particularly those of the ordination of women and/or practicing homosexuals)? Aren't there probably, don't you think, some very Catholic theologians, Bishops, Priests and even Cardinals, who are not what you'd call "liberal," seriously talking about this discipline, it's usefulness in today's Church and world, and about whether or not there are very legitimately faithful, married Catholic men who are called by God to be Priests? Can this subject not be discussed without anyone automatically thinking you're some kind of wacko liberal agenda-ridden nut job - or at least without someone calling you that? I would hope so. You notice, I keep mentioning that this requirement of celibacy for those entering the Priesthood is what the Church calls a discipline. It's not a dogma. It's not even doctrinally based. There is theology behind it, to a degree, but it's not something that's impossible or that has never been before, or that isn't in existence right now. I say this for education's sake. There may be many who read this blog who don't know these things. I'm not even sure that for Catholics, this is all that "common knowledge." There are a good little bunch of married Roman Catholic Priests. And historically, for basically the first 1,000 years of Christianity, Priests were generally allowed to be married. That's a complicated, long and drawn out story, but basically, yeah, married Priests for a long long time, then not. And still not, since the 12th century. Why not? Well, hmm, that would be the big question wouldn't it. So, let's clarify, for the record (for whom it may matter), that I am not about to start a petition, join any activist organizations, or start picketing any Cathedrals. I'm not built like that, so no worries. I am built to think and to think theologically and ecclesiologically. I am built to deeply consider things like these, especially as they may relate to my own life and vocation. But this is not just about me, it's about the whole Church. How many good, solid, mature, faithful, married, Catholic men might there be out there who have a deep draw toward the Priesthood, more than a passing attraction to the Sacrament of Holy Orders? How might a relaxation of the discipline of celibacy for the Priesthood open wide doors through which the wind of the Holy Spirit might blow through the Church? These are questions well worth considering. Do away with celibacy? No. Now, that's not what I said. There's another assumption that's floating around - that everyone who wants to think/talk about an "optionally celibate" Priesthood, is talking about doing away with any promises or vows of celibacy for anyone at all. That would be a terrible mistake. If these years of discipline have done anything they've built into us a deep value for the vocational nature of celibacy on its own. The Catholic Christian world is one of the few places in the Church at large where you're going to find that there is a place for someone to serve God and His People and be valued for being a celibate. We need not loose that to embrace others who might serve. Even in the Diocesan Priesthood, which I would suggest is a good place to open the door, there should remain an encouragement for men to be open to and consider whether God has gifted them with the gift of celibacy, and if so, they should make the promise and live inside their gift. If they are gifted with the draw to married life, they should go in that direction and live in that. So, there could still be both married and celibate Diocesan Priests, both serving God and the Church equally well, by God's Grace. The Religious Orders, perhaps, could make their own decisions about the matter. It makes more sense to me, especially in the monastic Orders, that celibacy remain the rule of the day. Of course, then, there are these newer monastic traditions emerging which may include room for those who are married, single, or celibate. Generally speaking, though, it depends on the specific charisms of the Orders and how a married Priest might fit into that charism. Obviously, no one is asking me to develop a solution for any of this, I'm just talking and thinking, so there you go. Here's another "for the record" - just, you know, for the record: If you want to label me (have fun with that), I'd definitely lean to the theologically and ecclesiastically conservative side of things. I have said as much here, but I do not support the practice of homosexuality as a behavior choice open to Christians, much less anyone who is seeking to be a Priest. I accept what the Church has always taught about this. It is a broken orientation (while not necessarily a chosen one, but broken and inordinate all the same). It is an unfortunate result of the Fall eeking its way out into humanity. So, practicing homosexual Priests? No. The Church can make no "discipline" in acceptance of that, even if it wanted to. It goes against what She teaches about the inherent created order, so no. Does God love homosexually oriented people? Ridiculous question - Yes. Of course He does. Is anyone going to be condemned merely because of a broken orientation? No. And the Catholic Church teaches no such thing either. Anyway, moving along. I am also not in favor of supporting the Priestly ordination of women. Again, I believe what the Church has basically always taught about the complementarity of gender giftedness. I know that's a crock to a lot of you, even some people I know and love, but there you go. It's not something I've chosen to talk about a great deal, or much at all, on this blog. Frankly, I haven't wanted to deal with the backlash. Otherwise, though, I don't consider it one of my core issues. I don't sit around thinking about it all the time. Are women and men of equal status in God's eyes? Certainly they are. But they do have different innate "gifts" and so, that's where I'm at. If you want to talk about some form of the Permanent Diaconate for women, then possibly, maybe so, but that's another issue. I don't bring these two things up to debate them. I bring them up because they are often, as I said before, linked together with any talk of a married Priesthood. I honestly don't understand it. These things are different on a base level. So, as I see it, one can talk about something like the consideration of a married Priesthood - more accurately here, the open option of a married and a celibate Diocesan Priesthood existing in tandem - and still be in an attitude of faithfulness and submission to the Magisterium. I don't have any great bitterness about this matter. I do believe the time is good and perhaps, right, for a change in this arena. I do believe I may be one of the men this might affect, and with that, I and others might possibly be able to positively affect the life of the Church. Can I affect the Church without being a Priest? Sure. I have and I will continue to do so, by His Grace. It's interesting to think about possibilities though, isn't it? I think it is. Hey, I just came back into this Church. I'm good. I'm not about stoking up a bunch of mess. Like I said, I'm just talking here, thinking. Please be good in the comments. Everyone will appreciate it. Pax vobiscum. technorati tags > the catholic priesthood, priesthood, married priesthood, catholic church, priestly celibacy Labels: catholic, church, sacraments :::
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