A request to Parramatta's Bishop Kevin Manning to sign a petition in favour of married clergy has backfired, with the Bishop issuing a statement stressing that the Church has been "constant in reaffirming the importance of clerical celibacy".Bishop Manning said he did not sign nor authorise the circulation of the petition because of the “tone of dissent it contains” and added that much of the current discussion on priestly celibacy overlooked the traditional teaching of the Church.
“Although the concept of priestly celibacy has been increasingly and sometimes stridently questioned, the Church has been constant in reaffirming the importance of clerical celibacy,” Bishop Manning wrote in response to a question asked of him on the Parramatta Archdiocese website.
"Priestly celibacy has been guarded by the Church for centuries as a brilliant jewel and retains its value undiminished even in our time when the outlook of men and the state of the world have undergone such profound changes."
Bishop Manning added celibacy was esteemed because of its connection with charity and Jesus Himself stated that celibacy was a gift and that Priests must bear witness that theirs is a "happy sacrifice".
“There are Christological, ecclesiological and eschatological reasons for celibacy, all based in the special communion with Christ to which priests are called,” he said.
“It is a much deeper reality, which affects the priest's being, not only the functions he carries out. The example of Christ Celibacy is the example that Christ Himself left us. In choosing to be celibate, He left us an example of total dedication to God. Priests need to live close to Christ so that they will pour out God's goodness and love into their ministry of service.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce