In defense of priestly celibacy

By Modesto P. Sa-onoy

Recent events in the Catholic world center on the possibility that the Church will allow the ordination of married men. The debate has caused division within the hierarchy. Although not an issue in the Philippines the controversy is being watched intensely because we have the same situation as other regions of the world, though not critical, where there is a scarcity of priests.

Nevertheless, the defense of celibacy of priests is a good opportunity for Filipinos to appreciate deeper the reasons for this unique requirement for the priesthood – the renunciation of wedlock. It is also an excellent opportunity for others to know beforehand what priestly dedication is like and whether one is strong enough to be able to handle the life of a priest and the life-long commitments it entails.

LifeSiteNews reported that last February 10, Cardinal Robert Sarah declared that the Catholic priesthood is “in mortal danger” and “going through a major crisis” because of the push from various voices within the Church to abolish priestly celibacy. The African prelate called out against those who want to make celibacy optional.

“By attacking the celibacy of priests, you are attacking the Church and her mystery… The ordination of married men is a fantasy of Western academics who are in search of violations. I want to affirm it forcefully: The poor, the simple, rank-and-file Christians do not demand an end to celibacy.”

Sarah, the prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, said there are voices within the Church who would like to “relativize the celibacy of priests.” He declared, “That would be a catastrophe! For celibacy is the most obvious manifestation that the priest belongs to Christ and that he no longer belongs to himself. Celibacy is the sign of a life that has meaning only through God and for him. Top of Form

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To want to ordain married men is to imply that priestly life is not full time, that it does not require a complete gift, that it leaves one free for other commitments such as a profession, that it leaves time free for a private life. But this is false. A priest remains a priest at all times. Priestly ordination is not first of all a generous commitment; it is a consecration of our whole being, an indelible conformation of our soul to Christ, the priest, who demands from us permanent conversion in order to correspond to him. Celibacy is the unquestionable sign that being a priest supposes allowing oneself to be entirely possessed by God. To call it into question would seriously aggravate the crisis of the priesthood.”

He pointed out the practical problems of a married priests: “If a priest is married, then he has a private life, a conjugal and family life. He must make time for his wife and children. He is unable to show, by his whole life, that he is totally and absolutely given to God and the Church.”

The Cardinal appealed to those who are within the Church and are working to allow the ordination of married men: I wanted to cry out my concern: Do not tear the Church apart! By attacking the celibacy of priests, you are attacking the Church and her mystery”.

He explained that those who attack celibacy want to make the Church a purely human institution, “within our power, within our reach…it means renouncing the mystery of the Church as God’s gift.”

The danger he said is that if one region is allowed that “would prohibit the raising of vocations of unmarried priests. The exception would become a permanent state.”

The Cardinal claims that “at the root of the abuses committed by clerics, there is a deep flaw in their formation… without teaching them about God as their only support, without making them experience that their lives only have meaning through God and for him. If God is taken out of the equation, the priest is left with nothing but power. If a priest doesn’t daily experience (that) he is only an instrument in God’s hands, if he doesn’t stand constantly before God to serve him with all his heart, then he risks becoming intoxicated with a sense of power. If a priest’s life is not a consecrated life, then he is in great danger of illusion and diversion.”

Deep thoughts to ponder for priests and laity.