Oct 15, 2005
Speaking to the 11th General Synod Fathers, gathered for their eighth meeting this morning at the Vatican, Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, who is Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites in Lebanon--a Catholic rite which allows for married priests--addressed the issue, which has been brought up by many, particularly in light of the U.S. sex abuse scandal, of commonly permitting married priests in the Roman rite.
Vatican City, Oct. 07, 2005 (CNA) - The Cardinal defended the practice of the celibate priesthood and discussed the beauty of the tradition, calling it the "most precious jewel in the treasury of the Catholic Church."
While pointing out that "the Maronite Church admits married priests" and that "half of our diocesan priests are married", the Cardinal Patriarch said that "it must be recognized that if admitting married men resolves one problem, it creates others just as serious."
"A married priest", he said, "has the duty to look after his wife and family, ensuring his children receive a good education and overseeing their entry into society. ... Another difficulty facing a married priest arises if he does not enjoy a good relationship with his parishioners; his bishop cannot transfer him because of the difficulty of transferring his whole family.
He noted that "married priests have perpetuated the faith among people whose difficult lives they shared, and without them this faith would no longer exist."
"On the other hand," he said, "celibacy is the most precious jewel in the treasury of the Catholic Church,"
Lamenting a culture which is all but outright opposed to purity, the Cardinal asked: "How can [celibacy] be conserved in an atmosphere laden with eroticism? Newspapers, Internet, billboards, shows, everything appears shameless and constantly offends the virtue of chastity."
Suggesting that there are no easy solutions to the problem of priest shortages in the Church--an oft brought up point during the Synod--he noted that, "Of course a priest, once ordained, can no longer get married. Sending priests to countries where they are lacking, taking them from a country that has many, is not the ideal solution if one bears in mind the question of tradition, customs and mentality. The problem remains."
Maronite Rite Cardinal defends, praises celibate priesthood
Note as well that the Maronite Church only sends celibate priests to serve outside of Lebanon.
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**”On the other hand,” he said, “celibacy is the most precious jewel in the treasury of the Catholic Church,”**
And true priest guard it carefully.
**”On the other hand,” he said, “celibacy is the most precious jewel in the treasury of the Catholic Church,”**
And true priests guard it carefully.
"How can [celibacy] be conserved in an atmosphere laden with eroticism? Newspapers, Internet, billboards, shows, everything appears shameless and constantly offends the virtue of chastity."
Chastity is not the same thing as celibacy, and the author's parenthetical insertion is wrong. It should say "How can [chastity] be conserved ..., etc."
The popular culture is as much an offense to continent singles and faithfully married couples [both groups of whom are also chaste] as it is to the celibate priesthood. In fact, I would say it is far more of an offense to continent singles than any other group. We haven't yet reached the point where faithful partners are ridiculed for observing their vows, but chaste single people are viciously deprecated.
Paul's recommendation not to marry is not based on an argument about "purity" [more properly chastity] because to do so would have suggested that sacramental marriage was unchaste, but rather, about the priorities a married man necessarily has versus an unmarried one.
A culture that doesn’t value virginity/celibacy likely also doesn’t properly value marriage and parenthood. Any right use of our sexual faculties is going to require self-sacrifice, in one form or another, not self-serving.