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1. I think it difficult for a lifetime commitment to celibacy. Forgoing the right to marriage has also to be assessed.
   Which of these takes precedence?
   The institution demands celibacy be total and life long. But for an individual who entered into the contract in good faith, the way out is very messy!

   Posted By: bill

2. Do we all not enter into 'a unique and privileged relationship with God' when we are Baptised?

   Posted By: Questioner.

3. The Vatican has for so long convinced itself that it has all the answers that it now seems incapable of responding in any other way but to defend itself with definitions of priestly celibacy.
   While it continues along these lines, it will demonstrate it has no other position but 'we are right, you are wrong' - first seen perhaps in the ecumenical sphere. That attitude is what has got it into the Holy Mess that it is in all around the world. Change will not come from the top - we all know that - real change comes from below.
   And nothing is more certain than that change is inevitable and should be welcomed, not feared. We are seeing the Corporation in its death throes - but it won't be a pretty sight!

   Posted By: Richard Flynn

4. If only we had more courageous leaders such as Schonborn! Some of our recently ordained - more concerned about the accoutrements of the role, and not so much about the real challenges from the young Rabbi from Nazareth Jesus, perhaps we could feel more confident about their personality balance and that we will not down the track have more of the same problems.

   Posted By: rock

5. Celibacy in may cases has led to the sexual abuse by male priests of boys as it can be construed that sex with a boy is not breaking the vow of celibacy, only sex with a female does that. As young 12 year old boy in the 50's I was a victim of sexual abuse by a priest.
   I was unable to admit to this fact for 55 years and it lay as a demon in my heart for all those years.
   Nothing that gives any possibility to this re-occuring, now or in the future, is wrong. Celibacy is un natural. If it works in the Catholic Orthodox Churches, Coptic, Marronite, Greek, Russian, why not 'the Church of Rome'? Is the 'Church of Rome' any better because of celibacy ? I think not.

   Posted By: DAVID FIELD

6. A loyal priest wrote about celibacy as the “Rock of Sisyphus”. Historically, the celibacy rock falls down the hill every 500 or so years, each time requiring reforms, but the Vatican, like Sisyphus, struggles to push it back up the hill, to fall yet again, and so on. It is a slow learner. The term “Priestly celibacy is a gift of the Holy Spirit” is confusing; it should read “charism of celibacy”. Such a charism may equally be found in lay people, and may be a kind of pre-disposition that a person discovers in oneself, and pursues it. Men who feel called to the Priesthood may not perceive they have a charism for celibacy, but view it as a condition to be undertaken to obtain Priesthood. This is grounds for reform to make celibacy optional. All the signs are that the celibacy rock of Sisyphus is sliding quickly down the cliff face, but the Vatican still talks in denial of it.

   Posted By: Boutros Neru

7. Beginning with the third century, there is indisputable evidence that even in the West many priests and bishops in good standing were married. The following list of bishops is but a small sample that I have randomly selected: Passivus, bishop of Fermo; Cassius, bishop of Narni; Aetherius, bishop of Vienne; Faron, bishop of Meaux; Magnus, bishop of Avignon. Filibaud, bishop of Aire-sur-l’Adour, was the father of St. Philibert de Jumiges, and Sigilaicus, bishop of Tours, was the father of St. Cyran of Brenne. The father of Pope Damasus I (366-84) was a bishop. Pope Felix III (483-92), whose father was almost certainly a priest, was the great-great grandfather of Pope Gregory I the Great (590-604). Pope Hormisdas (514-23) was the father of Pope Silverius (536-37).
   Being a married man with children was obviously no obstacle to the episcopacy or even to the papacy.
   We know for certain that one of the great fathers of the church, St Hilary, bishop of Poitiers (315-68), who was declared a doctor of the church in 1851 by Pope Pius IX, was married and had a daughter named Apra. It is thus clear that during the patristic era and into the early Middle Ages celibacy, as such, was not in force. - John W O'Malley SJ, America Magazine, Oct 28, 2002
   

   Posted By: Francis

8. I agree with Boutros Neru that the statement 'Priestly celibacy is a gift of the Holy Spirit' is confusing.
   In fact, I would go so far as to say it is misleading. Celibacy is a condition of priesthood introduced in an historical context as a response to what was happening within the Catholic priesthood at the time.
   Similar to the issue of women priests, celibacy has no theological or scriptural basis. Both issues are anachromisms within the Church's modern context.

   Posted By: Patrick O'Connell

9. Boutros Neru: You state “This is grounds for reform to make celibacy optional".
   Celibacy is optional already. If one does not wish to be celibate do not become a priest or religious brother, become involved in the church in another way. Simple.
   In the USA, especially, we see many examples of lay people who are doing great work perhaps the witness of their lives is even greater as they are doing it "in the world" in which we lay people can more easily relate to.
   

   Posted By: AlexP

10. Curious, Boutros Neru, that a 'loyal priest' would choose a metaphor from pagan Hades to refer to his chosen state. Did he claim to be speaking as well for those of his brother priests who find fulfilment joy in following Christ celibate?

    Posted By: John

11. Cardinal Claudio Hummes may well be right that 'Priestly celibacy is a gift of the Holy Spirit', but should it be a pre-condition for ordination in the Roman Catholic Church, when there is no such pre-condition in the other churches? A gift has to be received and accepted. But celibacy is imposed by the church of Rome, which is not quite identical with the Holy Spirit.

    Posted By: Rob Brian

12. I have recently returned to the Catholic faith after spending a number of years worshipping in Protestant churches. There the pastors are married and have two vocations. One being the church they run and the other being their wives and family. I have noticed that many pastors families have suffered the effects of neglect while their pastor (husband/father) pursues God's calling. I think it better that a Catholic priest remains celibate and is in a better position to give himself to the task of looking after his parish (without leaving behind a damaged family).

    Posted By: Steve

13. Cardinal Claudio Hummes' statement 'Priestly celibacy is a gift of the Holy Spirit' avoids serious discussion of an important issue.
    As we know, there are former married Anglican priests in the Roman Rite, in other rites and in the Orthodox Churches.
    Is the Holy Spirit not at work here and where was He during the first Christian millennium?

    Posted By: Jim W

14. If only teachers in state schools were allowed to marry, then there would be no sexual abuse in state schools.

    Posted By: Lance Eccles

15. Unless a seed falls to the ground and dies, it remands a single wheat, when it dies it produces a rich harvest. So when a man gives up his earthly life for God, it will produce a rich harvest and he will be rewarded in the next life. As the harvest is rich but laborers are few we have to constantly pray for all priests to be faithful to their ministry, their prayer life and vows, they need our prayers too.

    Posted By: Betty

16. If you don't like it, don't take it on.
    If you are not a celibate person, mind
    your own business.
    It only makes sense if you are in love
    with God, and His bride the Church.
    

    Posted By: david anthony davies

17. David Field; I don't know what manner of comments are going to be submitted after yours. I hope there will be none to play down what you have written. I'm sure your mother too found it a painful burden to carry having her son violated in such a way. I hate to think what I would be capable of doing in those circumstances.
    Whether you realise it or not, the mention of the length of time it had taken for you to face the fact, will no doubt validate many others who have born the brunt of the insensitive attitudes of those who have no idea the effect it would have on such young lives.
    Be happy. I thank you for your comment.
    

    Posted By: L Newington

18. David Anthony Davies overlooks the fact that the Church considers celibacy is a witness to the people of God and the world, e.g Coelibatus Sacerdotalis: Par 33, Par 34, Par 57 and passim.
    So the people of God rightly have a say if they are not impressed by the witness. By his logic, priests should mind their own business when it comes to commenting on marriage and sex.

    Posted By: Boutros Neru

19. 'By his logic, priests should mind their own business when it comes to commenting on marriage and sex.' Good point. You walked into that one, Boutros Neru.

    Posted By: JFH

20. David Field: No one can ever know the pain that is sexual abuse, but like all rape it is about power, and
    control because the 'celibate' thinks he is better, higher, more important, very special and so on.
    He has a different ministry of service, that's all. In persona Christi, should make you want to
    be humble - meek - simple as the Christ into whose Priesthood one is ordained.
    Clericalism is the stench in the institution, far more than celibacy, but, for reasons beyond me, it is
    rarely mentioned.
    

    Posted By: david anthony davies

21. David Field's comment that 'Celibacy in may cases has led to the sexual abuse by male priests of boys as it can be construed that sex with a boy is not breaking the vow of celibacy, only sex with a female does that. As young 12 year old boy in the 50's I was a victim of sexual abuse by a priest.'
    David, not only were you abused, but you were manipulated by your abuser. Only a mind in the grasp of the devil would construct that abusing a male child is not breaking the vow of celibacy.
    Impurity is impurity no matter who is the victim and your abuser was simply rationalising his own sin.
    Celibacy has no connection with abuse. There have been married men who were serial abusers of the worst time. It is a deep dark place which the devil lures some souls to and the climate of western culture with its sex saturated media does not help.

    Posted By: Honoria

22. The practice of compulsory celibacy dates at best from the 11th century and was a device aimed at stopping Church property being inherited by the children of the married clergy.
    That was the main reason for its imposition. Sure the practice was encouraged from the earliest times of the Christian community as Jesus was single.
    I find the latest edict from the Vatican to be short on truth. It's like each side in a conflict saying 'God is on our side'. I am never impressed when senior Clerics attempt to invoke the Holy Spirit for some edict's validity.
    I completely agree that at some stage the pressure 'from below', that is us ordinary Catholics will force change.
    It has happened before and can happen again. The Spirit moves in the community of believers, therefore it is a total fallacy to maintain that only the heirachy is the 'anointed group' which has exclusive access to the 'truth'.

    Posted By: Gavin

23. I am flabbergasted by Rock's comment:
    Some of our recently ordained - more concerned about the accoutrements of the role, and not so much about the real challenges from the young Rabbi from Nazareth Jesus, perhaps we could feel more confident about their personality balance.'
    What could be the possible basis for this statement?
    One wonders what Arbp Schoenborn's article said in its entirety, ie what was the full context, not what the Catholic-hating mainstream media have made of his article.

    Posted By: Peter in Canberra

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