OrthoCuban posted this today on the celibate priesthood. Whether you think some of his findings are debatable/contentious, it is still a worthwhile read. The previous article he mentions is also good and can be found here.
I have previously been asked several questions about celibate priests that need some answering in the light of yesterday’s post. Some of these are rather “rough” questions.
1. Don’t you believe that priests who wish to be celibate should have a psychological examination? Answer: Absolutely! I think anyone who wishes to be a priest, celibate or married should have a good psychological once over to make sure that they do not suffer from a religiosity syndrome or are trying to fulfill an authority fantasy, etc., etc. On some days, when I have been on the receiving end of the type of criticism that only “Christians” can truly give to their pastors, I will even be of the opinion that anyone who wishes to be a priest should be considered crazy until proven otherwise. 8-O
2. What do you think about homosexual priests in the celibate priesthood? Answer: How can you tell if a celibate priest is heterosexual or homosexual? Unless the celibate priest acts out and breaks his vows, is there any way to tell what his attractions are? I know that the modern Roman Catholic Church argues that homosexual attractions are an intrinsic disorder so strong that men with homosexual inclinations cannot keep their vows. But, please note that the post I wrote yesterday was about a heterosexual priest breaking his vows. While the Roman Catholic scandals in the USA have heavily involved homosexual acts of statutory rape, I have also lived in South America. And, in both Bolivia and Perú, I have both known and known about Roman Catholic priests who lived with a woman in an unmarried relationship. She was often the “prima” (cousin) or some other explanation. It is an open secret that clerical celibacy does not work perfectly in South America, either. The latest Roman Catholic Church scandals in Ireland have involved both homosexual and heterosexual acts. The issue is life-long self-control, not attraction.
3. Are not celibate priests intrinsically more spiritual? Answer: Definitely not! The only arguments that St. Paul makes for celibacy are two, and both are utilitarian. One is that the end is coming soon, so why marry. The second is that a celibate leader has more time to serve the Lord. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the One who lauds celibates as those who have a special gift from the Lord. But, He does not say that they are more spiritual, only that they have chosen to give up more for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Spirituality is not connected to celibacy. It is connected to prayer, fasting, Scripture reading, worship, etc., etc. Now, because monks have more time to spend in such disciplines, they are often more spiritual, but not always. And, a celibate priest who is assigned to a local parish may not spend more time in the spiritual disciplines but rather on mundane tasks, such as visiting, etc. Finally, St. Timothy is the product of a Christian family whose mother appears to have been something close to a deaconess. Nevertheless, may God grant us many more celibate priests, for we need them.
4. Does not the celibate priesthood save the Church some money? Answer: If the priesthood is of mandatory celibacy, like in the Roman Catholic Church, it loses money for the Church. If you use a strict accounting, a celibate priesthood appears to save the Church some money. But, when one imposes a mandatory celibacy, the Church actually loses money. A mandatory celibacy means that fewer men are willing to enter the priesthood. Fewer men means that parishes end up being closed or not receiving the pastoral care that they need. And, this means lost souls, under-pastored souls, and, yes, lost donations for the Church. Many men have received a call to the priesthood, but they have not received a call to celibacy. The insistence of the Roman Catholic Church, that celibacy is mandatory, has meant that there are very frustrated men who know they have a call, but also know that they are not called to celibacy. This either means men entering the priesthood who will fall into sin some day (violation of their vows) or it means men who fail to enter the priesthood because they know they are not called to celibacy and thus will not have the support of the Holy Spirit in the celibacy part of their calling.
I do believe in a celibate priesthood for some. But, it must be the result of a calling from the Holy Spirit and not the result of an inappropriate imposition by the Church. To do otherwise is to invite the problems that the Roman Catholic Church has seen in more than one country.
1. Don’t you believe that priests who wish to be celibate should have a psychological examination? Answer: Absolutely! I think anyone who wishes to be a priest, celibate or married should have a good psychological once over to make sure that they do not suffer from a religiosity syndrome or are trying to fulfill an authority fantasy, etc., etc. On some days, when I have been on the receiving end of the type of criticism that only “Christians” can truly give to their pastors, I will even be of the opinion that anyone who wishes to be a priest should be considered crazy until proven otherwise. 8-O
2. What do you think about homosexual priests in the celibate priesthood? Answer: How can you tell if a celibate priest is heterosexual or homosexual? Unless the celibate priest acts out and breaks his vows, is there any way to tell what his attractions are? I know that the modern Roman Catholic Church argues that homosexual attractions are an intrinsic disorder so strong that men with homosexual inclinations cannot keep their vows. But, please note that the post I wrote yesterday was about a heterosexual priest breaking his vows. While the Roman Catholic scandals in the USA have heavily involved homosexual acts of statutory rape, I have also lived in South America. And, in both Bolivia and Perú, I have both known and known about Roman Catholic priests who lived with a woman in an unmarried relationship. She was often the “prima” (cousin) or some other explanation. It is an open secret that clerical celibacy does not work perfectly in South America, either. The latest Roman Catholic Church scandals in Ireland have involved both homosexual and heterosexual acts. The issue is life-long self-control, not attraction.
3. Are not celibate priests intrinsically more spiritual? Answer: Definitely not! The only arguments that St. Paul makes for celibacy are two, and both are utilitarian. One is that the end is coming soon, so why marry. The second is that a celibate leader has more time to serve the Lord. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the One who lauds celibates as those who have a special gift from the Lord. But, He does not say that they are more spiritual, only that they have chosen to give up more for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Spirituality is not connected to celibacy. It is connected to prayer, fasting, Scripture reading, worship, etc., etc. Now, because monks have more time to spend in such disciplines, they are often more spiritual, but not always. And, a celibate priest who is assigned to a local parish may not spend more time in the spiritual disciplines but rather on mundane tasks, such as visiting, etc. Finally, St. Timothy is the product of a Christian family whose mother appears to have been something close to a deaconess. Nevertheless, may God grant us many more celibate priests, for we need them.
4. Does not the celibate priesthood save the Church some money? Answer: If the priesthood is of mandatory celibacy, like in the Roman Catholic Church, it loses money for the Church. If you use a strict accounting, a celibate priesthood appears to save the Church some money. But, when one imposes a mandatory celibacy, the Church actually loses money. A mandatory celibacy means that fewer men are willing to enter the priesthood. Fewer men means that parishes end up being closed or not receiving the pastoral care that they need. And, this means lost souls, under-pastored souls, and, yes, lost donations for the Church. Many men have received a call to the priesthood, but they have not received a call to celibacy. The insistence of the Roman Catholic Church, that celibacy is mandatory, has meant that there are very frustrated men who know they have a call, but also know that they are not called to celibacy. This either means men entering the priesthood who will fall into sin some day (violation of their vows) or it means men who fail to enter the priesthood because they know they are not called to celibacy and thus will not have the support of the Holy Spirit in the celibacy part of their calling.
I do believe in a celibate priesthood for some. But, it must be the result of a calling from the Holy Spirit and not the result of an inappropriate imposition by the Church. To do otherwise is to invite the problems that the Roman Catholic Church has seen in more than one country.
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