A message from Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J., Publisher, Ignatius Press.
In the papers, on the talk shows, the mantra is repeated: the cure for the present scandals is a married clergy. Of course, celibacy has nothing to do with these scandals: 1) Look at the Anglican church, which may soon be bankrupt in western Canada because of sex abuse lawsuits. 2) The majority of reported cased are of homosexual relations with young boys, not pedophilia; the perpetrators wouldn't be marrying women even if they had the chance. (And what kind of woman would marry these twisted souls?)
And, of course, all the discredited myths about the discipline of celibacy in the Catholic Church are trotted out.
For example:
Celibacy wasn't imposed in the Church until the 6th (or 9th, or 10th) century.
The motive for imposing celibacy was to prevent Church property from being inherited by the children of the clergy. The truth is that the Church's obligation of celibacy goes back to the apostles in an *unbroken* line. And the motivation for celibacy was the closer following of Jesus Christ, who required his apostles to leave wife and family, to become "eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom". But don't take my word for it. Ignatius Press has published three books which demolish the myths and provide compelling evidence for this unbroken tradition, the jewel of the Catholic priesthood:
The Case for Clerical Celibacy by Cardinal Alfons Stickler. This short (106pp) book masterfully sums up the results of the most authoritative scholarly research.
The Apostolic Origins of Priestly Celibacy by Fr. Christian Cocchini, S.J. This more extensive (466pp) book is the definitive scholarly study on this subject. It has never been refuted for the simple reason that it is irrefutable--all the evidence we have is clearly and cogently presented.
Celibacy in the Early Church by Stefan Heid. This book presents a penetrating and wide-ranging study of the historical data from the early Church on the topics of celibacy and clerical continence.
You'll also learn that the much-vaunted married clergy in Eastern churches was an innovation of the 7th century (Council *in Trullo*, 691--never recognized by Rome) based on documents later found out to have been forged. Skeptical? Read it for yourself.
By the way:
If you want to follow these and other controversies, get the inside information, and the unvarnished truth, you'll want to subscribe to Catholic World Report.
The Gay Priest Problem - Check out this special preview article from our upcoming May issue: Fr. Paul Shaughnessy's hard-hitting article on the Gay Priest Problem. Find out how problems in the Church have led to the current situation--and how we can prevent more abuse from happening.
If you are interested in learning more on these highly-charged topics, here are some other Ignatius Press titles you should consider: NEW - Priesthood and the Deaconate Deaconesses
Women in the Priesthood?
Truth about Homosexuality
"The bishop shall take care that they (Seminarians) be present every day at the sacrifice of the mass, and that they confess their sins at least once a month; and receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ as the judgment of their confessor shall direct; and on festivals serve in the cathedral and other churches of the place.
All which, and other things advantageous and needful for this object, all bishops shall ordain-with the advice of two of the senior and most experienced canons chosen by himself-as the Holy Spirit shall suggest; and shall make it their care, by frequent visitations, that the same be always observed. The froward, and incorrigible, and the disseminators of evil morals, they shall punish sharply, even by expulsion if necessary; and, removing all hindrances, they shall carefully foster whatsoever appears to tend to preserve and advance so pious and holy an institution."
Seems straightforward to me.