Snapd
ragon
THE
P RTAL
August 2015
Page 5
Snapdragon visits
a topical, if thorny,
subject
I
t is not a new topic of discussion, but it has been put on the table for the first time
by a small number of bishops of England and Wales, albeit retired ones curiously now
possessed with courage enough to raise the issue. I’m talking about priestly celibacy, or more
accurately, I suppose, mandatory priestly celibacy.
It is an issue which produces
strong feelings on both sides, and if
discussion is not precluded by less
daring non-retired bishops, many clergy and laity will
finally get the examination of a vexed subject for which
they have been waiting some time.
scriptural and historical evidence
rather less theological and spiritual than those briefly
mentioned here, such as the protection and control of
church property and land by the Church authorities!
Relaxing the rules on clerical celibacy would not,
however, be the magical answer to all the Church’s
problems. Just as celibacy does not necessarily produce
the perfect priest, neither does marriage!
Unlike the issue of the ordination of women, which
the Catholic Church has ruled as impossible if the not the magical answer
Church is to remain faithful to Christ’s will and the
It is plain stupid, for example, to believe that allowing
constant tradition, the question of the ordination of priests to be married (I choose my words carefully
married men is open to discussion.
– I suspect that even if ordination is permitted after
marriage, marriage after ordination will remain
Even though it has a longstanding tradition in the prohibited, as in the East) will prevent the abuse of
Church, and there is scriptural and historical evidence children.
for it in the early Church, priestly celibacy is not a
dogma but a discipline (notably not observed by Saint
We all of course hope never to witness such depravity
Peter). Therefore, the Church is free to re-examine in the Church ever again, but we mustn’t think that
it and legitimately change it if that is judged to be marriage is a simple solution to a complex problem.
appropriate.
Nor is opening the priesthood to married men
not essential to priesthood
certain to halt the decline in vocations. Some men
Priestly celibacy has a great deal to commend it: the may see a priesthood in which celibacy is optional and
possibility of total commitment of a man to Christ and freely chosen as more attractive, but there are many
his flock (I say possibility, as it is not unknown for a more factors and influences beyond sex bearing upon
celibate priest to become self-absorbed and isolated); a man discerning his vocation.
his sacrifice of family life for the sake of the Gospel,
and his counter-cultural stance in a sex-obsessed
Nor it is the case that married priests who likely know
world. But such virtues and ideals would still be a fair bit more about family life than their celibate
attainable, and still mirrored for all the faithful, lay brothers are necessarily better pastors and confessors.
and ordained, by priests who elect celibacy rather than Some may be, but we have all benefitted from the
have it demanded of them compulsorily.
counsel and care of a priest who is “untrammelled” by
the concerns of wife and children.
If celibacy is not essential to priesthood, it seems
unnecessary and unwise to persist with a discipline for practical consequences
all priests which is likely – statistically and logically There are practical consequences of ordaining
to be of value for the spiritual and priestly growth only married men to the priesthood to be considered ––
of some.
the funding, housing and deployability of a married
man with family are all big issues, but hopefully none
It is also worth remembering that celibacy arose as a of them is so big as to frighten the bishops from having
mandatory discipline in the Middle Ages for reasons the debate.
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