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To: FourtySeven
Thus, to say that being a celibate Priest is immoral or somehow contrary to God's Plan for all humanity is akin to saying someone who is voluntarily celibate without being a Priest is also going against God's Plan.

I never meant to imply that celibacy is immoral. I'm simply addressing the question raised in the article.

The point is, the doctrine of celibacy has consequences. Whether it's right or wrong inherently is beside the point, in that context. It is a factor in this problem, IMO.

93 posted on 11/16/2006 11:11:54 AM PST by TChris (We scoff at honor and are shocked to find traitors among us. - C.S. Lewis)
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To: TChris
The point is, the doctrine of celibacy has consequences. Whether it's right or wrong inherently is beside the point, in that context. It is a factor in this problem, IMO.

Celibacy isn't a doctrine, by the way, it's a discipline, thus subject to review and possible removal (although this is highly unlikely, admittedly).

Now, as for the point of "celibacy has consequences", it only has consequences insomuch as some "cannot control themselves", thus, St. Paul instructs us, "they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion".

IOW, clearly what has happened with the pedophile priests is that they never should have been priests to begin with, and indeed (since most abuse was same sex) should have sought council for their addiction to the disorder known as homosexuality.

This however, does not show a negative "consequence" to celibacy; it simply shows that some in the priesthood were improperly ordained, or really, should never have sought the priesthood in the first place.

P.S. Simply because some priests may have been ordained that shouldn't have, that doesn't show that the Church is a failure, as a whole corporate body. It just shows that the Church is comprised of fallable human beings; this does not equate to the Church as a whole being corrupt though. Just a disclaimer for anyone who may hasten to draw that conclusion.

103 posted on 11/16/2006 11:22:41 AM PST by FourtySeven (47)
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