More on married Catholic priests

Although many readers agree with my views against married priesthood, a few others do not. They harp on the usual arguments that enforced celibacy has no biblical basis, that it was not practiced by the church in the first 300 years or so of its existence. It is their contention that St. Peter and the rest of the apostles were married but that did not make them less credible and holy. They also stress on the reality that priests are human and it is natural for them to respond to a natural need. This reality is denied if priests are forced to remain single, so the argument goes.

I do not really know the history of eccesiastical celibacy and I do not wish to engage in any debate on this issue. Mine is just the thought of an ordinary layman. It is a gut reaction to the unfortunate developments in the Church involving her pastors.

The incidents triggering the revival of the proposal to make celibacy optional are the alleged sexual harassments or inappropriate acts of a few members of the clergy arising out of their human weaknesses. I cannot really see how giving priests that option to get married makes them invulnerable to the "rebellious impulses of the flesh and the passions of the heart" that result in sexual misconduct. The same human weaknesses remain even if they get married. So married priests will just be committing a graver wrong if they succumb to those intractable inclinations to respond to natural needs. They will be violating not only their priestly vows but also their newly acquired marital vows. The proposed solution leads to a messier situation.

My high respect, inestimable admiration and total faith in priests stem from their decision to stray away from the beaten path and choose a way of life higher than my own married state. Simple common sense rather than profound knowledge of Church doctrine and history tells me that they opted for an unmarried state of life because freeing themselves of the earthly concerns and responsibilities of the married state is the best, and the only way they could serve their fellowmen fully and wholeheartedly; that they freely embrace celibacy so they can easily attain spiritual unity with God in closer intimacy through prayer, contemplation and self sacrifice. They choose this state because they want to imitate and follow Christ who remained a celibate.

The solution to the current crisis in the Church involving her pastors lies not in accepting human weaknesses by lifting celibacy, but in reaffirming the potential of human nature by strictly adhering to it.

There are a lot more priests and religious who have heroically remained true to their vows amid the allure of modern world. They just stay in the background without flaunting their celibacy and holiness. They make up that resplendent face of the Church shining beyond the glare of publicity. These unsung heroes rather than the renowned celebrities are the ones who will steer the Church safely to the shore in this stormy voyage.

* * *

E-mail: josesison@edsamail.com.ph