Celibacy for Priests 'Can be Changed', says Pope Francis

[Skwim]

The rule of priestly celibacy has been called into question by Pope Francis, who says he believes that the rules requiring all priests to abstain from sex "can be changed."

The tradition in the Catholic Church has been for priests as well as bishops to take vows of celibacy, a rule that has been in place since the early Middle Ages.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "All the ordained ministers of the Latin Church, with the exception of permanent deacons, are normally chosen from among men of faith who live a celibate life and who intend to remain celibate "for the sake of the kingdom of heaven."

Psychotherapist and former Benedictine priest Richard Sipe has conducted a study of celibate and sexual behaviour among Catholic clerics in the United States from 1960 to 1985, and found that half of all priests and Catholic brothers were sexually active at any particular time.

Masturbation was the most frequent sexual activity, followed by affairs with women, sex with male companions, and Internet pornography. He also believes that these numbers have not changed much today.

"Sex is really very close to an addiction. It's a drive that doesn't go away," Sipe told the New York Times. "If you're going to live without it, you can't live like a normal person. You can't just say one day, 'I'm celibate.' Celibacy is a process."
source

______________________________________________________________

Catholic Sexual Ethics . . . responds to the objection that masturbation is not a grave moral disorder in certain circumstances. Adolescent masturbation is given as one of the circumstances. The response is that the Church has always acknowledged that circumstances alter cases, and that there are degrees of responsibility in the different kinds of masturbation. But the Church holds that the act of masturbation remains OBJECTIVELY SERIOUSLY WRONG. Rightly she distinguishes between the objective gravity of the masturbatory act and the personal responsibility of the agent. This important distinction, which Farraher elaborates, enables us to hold the traditional position, while making allowances for a variety of mitigating factors which diminish the personal guilt of the masturbator, provided he is willing to do whatever may be necessary to overcome the bad habit, or in some cases, the compulsion.
source

​

Catholic or not, what is your opinion on celibacy for Catholic priests and bishops? If you would, please indicate whether or not you're Catholic.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

It should be optional and they also should allow women into the clergy. It would be even better if they followed the Cathar's example in this area:

had women as well as men as priests, (Parfaite being the female appellation). They held to the sensible idea that Parfaits should usually come from people in their middle-age, after they had been wives and husbands and had children. This made the rule of celibacy imposed on the Parfaits easier to keep and thus a much more realistic concept.

http://hubpages.com/religion-philosophy/Catharism-should-basic-Christianity-be-revived

 

[Shiranui117]

I'm Catholic.

Clerical celibacy has never been a doctrine in the Church. It only became a thing in the 1200's in the Roman Church to bar married men from the priesthood. In the Eastern Catholic churches, married men have always been allowed to become priests, and such a practice is both traditional, and in some cases even expected.

Technically, even the injunction against married men becoming bishops is only a later development, enacted at the First Council of Nicaea in 325. In the Scriptures, it is clearly stated that married men can become bishops (1 Timothy 3:2-4).

If the Roman church were to reinstate the priesthood as being available for married men, and allow married men to become bishops, I wouldn't bat an eye. I'd welcome the change back to the original practice of allowing married priests in the West.

 

[Sees]

 

[Unification]

The rule of priestly celibacy has been called into question by Pope Francis, who says he believes that the rules requiring all priests to abstain from sex "can be changed."

The tradition in the Catholic Church has been for priests as well as bishops to take vows of celibacy, a rule that has been in place since the early Middle Ages.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "All the ordained ministers of the Latin Church, with the exception of permanent deacons, are normally chosen from among men of faith who live a celibate life and who intend to remain celibate "for the sake of the kingdom of heaven."

Psychotherapist and former Benedictine priest Richard Sipe has conducted a study of celibate and sexual behaviour among Catholic clerics in the United States from 1960 to 1985, and found that half of all priests and Catholic brothers were sexually active at any particular time.

Masturbation was the most frequent sexual activity, followed by affairs with women, sex with male companions, and Internet pornography. He also believes that these numbers have not changed much today.

"Sex is really very close to an addiction. It's a drive that doesn't go away," Sipe told the New York Times. "If you're going to live without it, you can't live like a normal person. You can't just say one day, 'I'm celibate.' Celibacy is a process."
source

______________________________________________________________

Catholic Sexual Ethics . . . responds to the objection that masturbation is not a grave moral disorder in certain circumstances. Adolescent masturbation is given as one of the circumstances. The response is that the Church has always acknowledged that circumstances alter cases, and that there are degrees of responsibility in the different kinds of masturbation. But the Church holds that the act of masturbation remains OBJECTIVELY SERIOUSLY WRONG. Rightly she distinguishes between the objective gravity of the masturbatory act and the personal responsibility of the agent. This important distinction, which Farraher elaborates, enables us to hold the traditional position, while making allowances for a variety of mitigating factors which diminish the personal guilt of the masturbator, provided he is willing to do whatever may be necessary to overcome the bad habit, or in some cases, the compulsion.
source

​

Catholic or not, what is your opinion on celibacy for Catholic priests and bishops? If you would, please indicate whether or not you're Catholic.

Not Catholic.

If someone wants to fit into a system, and confide in obeying certain rules, it's their pledge of alligience to the system. The more liberation from harmless rules, would be a benefit.

Don't really see anyone as a "priest" or "bishop," just more fancy titles.... but there are great benefits in being celibate if it's for someone. If it's not for someone, there are great benefits in not being celibate also.

 

[Unification]

I'm Catholic.

Clerical celibacy has never been a doctrine in the Church. It only became a thing in the 1200's in the Roman Church to bar married men from the priesthood. In the Eastern Catholic churches, married men have always been allowed to become priests, and such a practice is both traditional, and in some cases even expected.

Technically, even the injunction against married men becoming bishops is only a later development, enacted at the First Council of Nicaea in 325. In the Scriptures, it is clearly stated that married men can become bishops (1 Timothy 3:2-4).

If the Roman church were to reinstate the priesthood as being available for married men, and allow married men to become bishops, I wouldn't bat an eye. I'd welcome the change back to the original practice of allowing married priests in the West.

For me, a bishop is an overseer of ones own mind and body. . one will only be an effective overseer of themselves if their mind is "married"- united and whole. An inner "priest" and "kingship" of themselves.

 

[psychoslice]

The problem was that the old monks many years ago, thought that in the bible it said Celibacy, but now they realize the word was celebrate not celibacy, many tears were shed that day.

 

[vaguelyhumanoid]

What gets me about Catholic sexual morality is the notion that masturbation is a sin. Celibacy is one thing, but celibacy even towards oneself just seems impossibly harsh to me.

 

[Unification]

What gets me about Catholic sexual morality is the notion that masturbation is a sin. Celibacy is one thing, but celibacy even towards oneself just seems impossibly harsh to me.

Some can do it, some cannot. Never thought that I could but did for awhile, learned to deny the burning desire and achieve self-control. Learned the most I've ever learned during that time.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

The rule of priestly celibacy has been called into question by Pope Francis, who says he believes that the rules requiring all priests to abstain from sex "can be changed."

The tradition in the Catholic Church has been for priests as well as bishops to take vows of celibacy, a rule that has been in place since the early Middle Ages.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "All the ordained ministers of the Latin Church, with the exception of permanent deacons, are normally chosen from among men of faith who live a celibate life and who intend to remain celibate "for the sake of the kingdom of heaven."

Psychotherapist and former Benedictine priest Richard Sipe has conducted a study of celibate and sexual behaviour among Catholic clerics in the United States from 1960 to 1985, and found that half of all priests and Catholic brothers were sexually active at any particular time.

Masturbation was the most frequent sexual activity, followed by affairs with women, sex with male companions, and Internet pornography. He also believes that these numbers have not changed much today.

"Sex is really very close to an addiction. It's a drive that doesn't go away," Sipe told the New York Times. "If you're going to live without it, you can't live like a normal person. You can't just say one day, 'I'm celibate.' Celibacy is a process."
source

______________________________________________________________

Catholic Sexual Ethics . . . responds to the objection that masturbation is not a grave moral disorder in certain circumstances. Adolescent masturbation is given as one of the circumstances. The response is that the Church has always acknowledged that circumstances alter cases, and that there are degrees of responsibility in the different kinds of masturbation. But the Church holds that the act of masturbation remains OBJECTIVELY SERIOUSLY WRONG. Rightly she distinguishes between the objective gravity of the masturbatory act and the personal responsibility of the agent. This important distinction, which Farraher elaborates, enables us to hold the traditional position, while making allowances for a variety of mitigating factors which diminish the personal guilt of the masturbator, provided he is willing to do whatever may be necessary to overcome the bad habit, or in some cases, the compulsion.
source

​

Catholic or not, what is your opinion on celibacy for Catholic priests and bishops? If you would, please indicate whether or not you're Catholic.

I am a Catholic by sacrament; and, I will always be a Catholic (Baptized into the Church). So, my opinions will reflect some of the beliefs that I agree with in the Church although they are not my own beliefs. I actually agree with celibacy for priest. I feel if I became a priest, if I were male (funny how gender can change God's callings), not having sex and anything related to that would not cross my mind. I mean, it's not like women are throwing themselves at me and I am not one to do so at them.

It is a complete and serious devotion (whether or not the Church or Pope states it is not the point) to God by avoiding many of the temptations that may lead a priest away from God. One of those temptations (as mentioned in your OP) is masturbation and sex among some of the clergy. It's not against God, it's against the vows of celibacy that a priest takes up to devote himself fully to God.

The Pope can say priest can mary, priest can do the cha cha... but many priest, more likely than not, will reframe from sex because that could be their one thing that holds them back from being a servant to the Church (which is what a priest does). So, I agree with celibacy in priesthood.

What I don't agree with is priest can only be men. But that's a different story, which shall be told at another time.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

The Pope can say priest can mary, priest can do the cha cha... but many priest, more likely than not, will reframe from sex because that could be their one thing that holds them back from being a servant to the Church (which is what a priest does). So, I agree with celibacy in priesthood.

In the UK some of the more conservative Church of England vicars have joined the Catholics, but of course they bring their wives and families with them, that must be a culture shock to Catholic parishioners. I think this is partly to do with the Church of England deciding to have women clergy....I wonder if the Catholic Church will come round to the idea eventually?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

In the UK some of the more conservative Church of England vicars have joined the Catholics, but of course they bring their wives and families with them, that must be a culture shock to Catholic parishioners. I think this is partly to do with the Church of England deciding to have women clergy....I wonder if the Catholic Church will come round to the idea eventually?

Could be. Reading that may make some Roman Catholics I live with faint. Culture is a huge influence, true.

 

[rusra02]

I am not Catholic. The apostle Peter was a married man. (Matthew 8:14) 1 Timothy 4:1-3 tells us; "However, the inspired word clearly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to misleading inspired statements and teachings of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, whose conscience is seared as with a branding iron. They forbid marriage."

 

[Nietzsche]

It should be noted that the biggest reason the RCC instituted celibacy was to prevent various ecclesiastical positions from becoming more-or-less hereditary titles.

 

[Glaurung]

I am not Catholic. The apostle Peter was a married man. (Matthew 8:14) 1 Timothy 4:1-3 tells us; "However, the inspired word clearly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to misleading inspired statements and teachings of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, whose conscience is seared as with a branding iron. They forbid marriage."

The Church does not forbid marriage, it's even a sacrament. Celibacy is a disciplinary requirement for Latin Rite clergy, and it is by no means contrary to scripture. Matthew 19:9-12 and 1 Corinthians 7 If one can persevere, celibacy is seen as praiseworthy by both Christ and Paul. But it is by no means required for the majority.

As for my view, the requirement isn't a question of doctrine, and married priests (even in the Latin Rite) already exist. If the lack of priests becomes too critical I can see them abolishing it. I don't think too many people base their Catholicism on what priests can legitimately do in the bedroom, so I frankly don't see any reasonable objection.

 

[rusra02]

The Church does not forbid marriage, it's even a sacrament. Celibacy is a disciplinary requirement for Latin Rite clergy, and it is by no means contrary to scripture. Matthew 19:9-12 and 1 Corinthians 7 If one can persevere, celibacy is seen as praiseworthy by both Christ and Paul. But it is by no means required for the majority.

As for my view, the requirement isn't a question of doctrine, and married priests (even in the Latin Rite) already exist. If the lack of priests becomes too critical I can see them abolishing it. I don't think too many people base their Catholicism on what priests can legitimately do in the bedroom, so I frankly don't see any reasonable objection.

I agree that voluntary celibacy is not contrary to Scripture. However, forced celibacy is. I believe early Christian overseers and apostles were not forced to be celibate. (1 Corinthians 9:5)

 

[Shiranui117]

It should be noted that the biggest reason the RCC instituted celibacy was to prevent various ecclesiastical positions from becoming more-or-less hereditary titles.

This is especially true in areas of Europe where clerics in certain ecclesiastical positions wielded immense political power; for example, the Austrian city of Salzburg was ruled by a Prince-Archbishop from the 1200's up until the Napoleonic era.

 

[Nietzsche]

This is especially true in areas of Europe where clerics in certain ecclesiastical positions wielded immense political power; for example, the Austrian city of Salzburg was ruled by a Prince-Archbishop from the 1200's up until the Napoleonic era.

To give people a visual understanding of just what manner of power we're talking about here;

And those are only the ones who were direct vassals of the Emperor himself. There are countless other, smaller positions that swore fealty to a Duke, a Count or what have you.

 

[metis]

As one who is not Catholic but is married to one, both she and I do hope someday soon the church will allow for priests and nuns to be married because I think it will help resolve some problems that have shaken the church.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I'm up for anything that may result in more non-pedophiles becoming priests.