Posted on 04/14/2010 2:22:26 PM PDT by Brian Kopp DPM
Vows of chastity are difficult to keep, no matter who is making them. I don’t believe it is biblically required for a priest to be unmarried. But, since the Catholic Church requires that, people who aren’t willing to live up to that standard just shouldn’t become priests.
So, Catholics see impotence as a valid way to end a marriage? Does this allow divorce, or is it that odd concept of “annulment?”
Thank you for posting this article.
So, Catholics see impotence as a valid way to end a marriage?
No, that's not what the quote says. It says that impotence is an impediment to marriage vows. That is, a man who is impotent cannot make valid marriage vows. He cannot get married. It EMPHATICALLY DOES NOT say that a married man who becomes impotent ceases to be married or that his marriage can be divorced. His condition at the time he made the vow is relevant, not a change in his condition after.
If you don't understand the distinction, I'll try to explain further.
A vow of marriage between a gay couple is a promise to God to continue being an abomination. Dangerous territory if you ask me.
I taught at an RC seminary In the 60’s. It was rife with homosexuality. There was substantial confusion about sexuality. Some believed that homosexuality was an acceptable solution to the problem of celibacy. This led directly to the substantial abuse of children by homosexual priests.
It has taken far too long for the church to clear this matter up. I am pleased to hear, finally, that there is an understanding of the relationship between homosexual priests and sexual abuse.
It is foolish to put such unreasonable and unnatural restrictions of Priests. We as human beings are incapable of avoiding sin on our own. Fortunately God is forgiving of the repentant.
It is foolish of the Catholic church to put additional obsticles in the path of Priests trying to avoid sin. It also seems ridicules to prohibit those who commit themselves to God from having and raising children. Why would God wish for his most faithful servants to be banned from reproducing?
Though I think it would be better off sticking with God's rules, the Catholic Church has a right to make its own rules. For a long time I was a Catholic that disagreed with some fundamental teachings of the Church. Eventually it occurred to me that if I disagreed on such fundamental issues, then I wasn't really Catholic. So I'm no longer Catholic.
Matt. 19:11-12 - Jesus says celibacy is a gift from God and whoever can bear it should bear it. Jesus praises and recommends celibacy for full-time ministers in the Church. Because celibacy is a gift from God, those who criticize the Church's practice of celibacy are criticizing God and this wonderful gift He bestows on His chosen ones.
Matt. 19:29 - Jesus says that whoever gives up children for the sake of His name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. Jesus praises celibacy when it is done for the sake of His kingdom.
Matt. 22:30 - Jesus explains that in heaven there are no marriages. To bring about Jesus' kingdom on earth, priests live the heavenly consecration to God by not taking a wife in marriage. This way, priests are able to focus exclusively on the spiritual family, and not have any additional pressures of the biological family (which is for the vocation of marriage). This also makes it easier for priests to be transferred to different parishes where they are most needed without having to worry about the impact of their transfer on wife and children.
1 Cor 7:1 – Paul teaches that it is well for a man not to touch a woman. This is the choice that the Catholic priests of the Roman rite freely make.
1 Cor. 7:7 - Paul also acknowledges that celibacy is a gift from God and wishes that all were celibate like he is.
1 Cor. 7:27 – Paul teaches men that they should not seek marriage. In Paul’s opinion, marriage introduces worldly temptations that can interfere with one’s relationship with God, specifically regarding those who will become full-time ministers in the Church.
1 Cor. 7:32-33, 38 - Paul recommends celibacy for full-time ministers in the Church so that they are able to focus entirely upon God and building up His kingdom. He “who refrains from marriage will do better.”
1 Tim. 3:2 - Paul instructs that bishops must be married only once. Many Protestants use this verse to prove that the Church's celibacy law is in error. But they are mistaken because this verse refers to bishops that were widowers. Paul is instructing that these widowers could not remarry. The verse also refers to those bishops who were currently married. They also could not remarry (in the Catholic Church's Eastern rite, priests are allowed to marry; celibacy is only a disciplinary rule for the clergy of the Roman rite). Therefore, this text has nothing to do with imposing a marriage requirement on becoming a bishop.
1 Tim. 4:3 - in this verse, Paul refers to deceitful doctrines that forbid marriage. Many non-Catholics also use this verse to impugn the Church's practice of celibacy. This is entirely misguided because the Catholic Church (unlike many Protestant churches) exalts marriage to a sacrament. In fact, marriage is elevated to a sacrament, but consecrated virginity is not. The Church declares marriage sacred, covenantal and lifegiving. Paul is referring to doctrines that forbid marriage and other goods when done outside the teaching of Christ and for a lessor good. Celibacy is an act of giving up one good (marriage and children) for a greater good (complete spiritual union with God).
1 Tim. 5:9-12 - Paul recommends that older widows take a pledge of celibacy. This was the beginning of women religious orders.
2 Tim. 2:3-4 - Paul instructs his bishop Timothy that no soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim his to satisfy the One who enlisted him. Paul is using an analogy to describe the role of the celibate priesthood in the Church.
Rev. 14:4 - unlike our sinful world of the flesh, in heaven, those consecrated to virginity are honored.
Isaiah 56:3-7 - the eunuchs who keep God's covenant will have a special place in the kingdom of heaven.
Jer. 16:1-4 - Jeremiah is told by God not to take a wife or have children.
Yes, impotence is one cause for ‘annulment’ because it’s assumed that marriage ought to be open for children.
“I’ve never seen anything in the Bible that convinces me that those called to follow God should be celibate.”
You’ve not read Corinthians? Paul is very clear. “The unmarried man does not have his attentions divided and can devote himself entirely to God.”
At least you made an honest decision to leave and should be applauded. Catholicism with it sacramental system of graces isn’t accepted by all and so becoming unchurched or protestant is far superior for some than remaining Catholic. Many are called but few are chosen and the door to salvation is narrow. Now if the current apostate nuns and clergy would leave, it would be beneficial to both Catholicism and Protestantism.
Excellent article and thanks for posting it, Dr. Kopp.
BTTT
Wow.Jesus totally contradicted what G_D said about getting married! Celibacy is actually considered a big sin in the Torah.If Jesus truly is G-d then he contradicted himself.I used to be a Christian but there are way too many inconsistancies in the Christian bible. I never understood the trinity;anytime I asked a question about it I was labeled a sinner.I refuse to accept something just because someone tells me it’s so.
G_d clearly stated that it is a sin for one to remain celibate. This can be found in the Torah.G-d wants us to come together in a committed relationship
So you reject both the OT and the NT?
Isaiah 56:3-7 - the eunuchs who keep God’s covenant will have a special place in the kingdom of heaven.
Jer. 16:1-4 - Jeremiah is told by God not to take a wife or have children.
Wrong,wrong,wrong.I accept the Torah,which Christians call the OT.The Torah has been re-written,if you will,to make it seem as though Jesus is the promised messiah. What is said in the Christian bible contradicts the Hebrew Bible. The Torah makes no mention of a messiah who will be divine,and G-d wants his children to get married and bring children into the world.”Be friutful and multiply”.I’ll have to go back and re-read Jeremiah but what I have learned is that marriage is a big deal to Jews.What Jesus said in the Christian bible is the total opposite of what G-d said in the Torah,so clearly Jesus cannot be G-d.The word of the Torah is forever binding,and is never to be changed.
Well, this thread is a discussion for Christians, so thanks for sharing, but your points are off topic at best.
I thought Jews were allowed to give their views as well.At any rate you misunderstood what I was getting at;the Torah and the Christian bibles say two very different things about marriage,the messiah,etc.I was just trying to point out the differences.At any rate,my statements were not meant to be insulting.I just find it interesting how the Torah(what you would call the OT)and the Christian bibles say two very different things.The fact that the Torah says marriage is a very important thing,a mitzvah of sorts,and that Jesus said that chastity is the ideal,if one can handle it,fascinates and perplexes me.I guess I’m just looking at this from the Jewish perspective.If you and I knew each other and were speaking face-to-face it would be much easier,and perhaps even more civil,to have a conversation on the matter.
I just read this article and think it is very good; just not sure if it should be pinged out; I’ll let you decide, since it seems more of interest to Catholics.
The explanation of why chastity (I would use the term celibacy but I will have to look up the exact definitions; I think of celibacy as refraining from all sexual acts) is also esteemed in Hinduism, for basically the same or correlated reasons.
(pinging a couple of other names who might like this one.)
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