Clerical Celibacy....

[goldbug16]

Hullo y'all. Can you read this? And make suggestions....



Over the centuries, the Catholic Church has upheld the discipline of celibacy for priests. Celibacy is a virtue and gift that is offered to some for the sake of the heavenly kingdom. (CCC #1579) Celibacy for priests is a discipline in the Roman Catholic Church, not a doctrine. In other words it is a church regulation but not an integral part of Church teaching. This is based upon three arguments for the Church’s teaching on clerical celibacy.
The first arguments we may use are from history. Celibacy for the priesthood is inspired by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Our Lord remained celibate giving his entire life to Gods’ work on earth. Jesus speaks about this when He says, “Some were incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced it for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.” (Mt. 19:12) In response to St. Peter’s query, “We have given up everything and followed you,” Our Lord says, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God who will not receive an overabundant return in this present age and eternal life in the age to come.” (Lk.18:29)
Though, the first Pope, St. Peter, as well as a few subsequent popes, bishops, and priests during the Church’s first 200-300 years were married men, celibacy in this vocation was still practiced and encouraged by Church fathers. However, though it was practiced, during the first three centuries, it was not a general obligation throughout the Catholic Church. In the Catholic Catechism, Fr. Hardon says that celibacy was an unwritten norm in the early centuries. However, because of many priests falling out of the discipline, the Spanish and African councils decided to make it official. (cf. The Case for Clerical Celibacy) “The requirement [celibacy] for all the clergy of Spain at the council of Elvira about the year 305 marked the beginning of official divergence in the practice of Eastern and Western Christianity.” (Catholic Catechism, p 528) The necessity for celibacy in the priesthood was again reiterated at the Council of Carthage in 390.
Theologically, a priest desires to imitate the life of Jesus with regard to chastity and the sacrifice of married life for the "sake of the Kingdom" (Luke 18:28-30). He also desires to follow the example of Jesus Christ in being "married" to the Church, viewed by Catholicism as the "Bride of Christ". “Priestly spirituality consists essentially of being conformed to the way of life, the mind, and the fate of the crucified and risen Lord.” (p. 106, The Priesthood and Diaconate) This requires freedom and sacrifice. When he is called to Holy Orders, a man freely accepts the commitment of celibacy. This grants him the freedom to identify with Christ and to serve Him and the Church without reservation, condition or hesitation. "Clerics…are obliged to observe celibacy, which is a special gift of God, by which sacred ministers can adhere more easily to Christ with an undivided heart and can more freely dedicate themselves to the services of God and mankind."(Canon 277) The priesthood is an extreme at of love – “the total gift of self to the Church”. The priest sacrifices conjugal love with a woman and having a family to be wedded to Christ, and His Bride, the Church, serving their needs as father. In his vocation, the priest fulfills spousal love: he guards the Church, his bride, and gives life to us, the children of God, through the sacraments.

“Christian celibacy, an evengelical way of life, does not spring from a
neurotic fear of the opposite sex and does not manifest itself in an
oppressive denial of sexual drives. It is a charismatic imitation of
Christ’s way of life, an intentional availability for service in the kingdom
of God. It is in service in “the affairs of the Lord” (1 Cor 7:32), in caring
for the salvation of ones neighbor and for the building up of the Church.”
(p. 166, The Priesthood and Diaconate)


The Liturgical argument is very closely linked to the Thelogical argument. Through the liturgy, the redemption of mankind is continued by Christ, the eternal High Priest. The liturgy is three fold - Divine worship, proclamation of the gospel, and the service of charity. These actions correspond to Christ as Priest (worship), Prophet (proclamation), and King (service of charity). Therefore, the liturgy is “an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ.” (CCC # 1070) The priest acts in persona Christi, the channel through whom grace is given to us in the Church. This identification permeates his whole being. “Priests…are configured to Christ and act in his name.” (p. 87, Case for Clerical Celibacy)
By remaining celibate, the priest dedicates his mind, heart and time entirely and directly to the service of God and his fellow man. Our late Pope John Paul II wrote that, “The vow of celibacy is a matter of keeping one's word to Christ and the Church. A duty and a proof of the priest's inner maturity; it is the expression of his personal dignity.” (Pope John Paul II) We are greatly blessed that in the Catholic Church, men are willing to sacrifice all for the good of God, and His church. Their example of self-donation can help us to live totally for Our Lord in our personal vocation.

Sooooo....is there anything that I should consider putting in, or is it heretical in any way?

[farglefeezlebut]

I have something I want to add, but it will take a while to write. When does this paper have to be in by.

I really should be studying right now...

[goldbug16]

It should be in in a week.

[jeffpugh]

That is a good paper so far. Keep up the good work!