I should start by declaring that I am not now, nor have I ever been a member of the Catholic Church. I don't proscribe to any organized religion, as my personal definition of religion is that it is the belief in someone else's divine realizations.
But one of the things I do believe in is truth and honesty. There are facts in this world, and no legitimate purpose is served by ignoring those facts. If one has to lie to bolster their faith, then it is not a faith worth holding.
Father Alberto Cutié's involvement with a woman has got people all up at arms: on the one side, his supporters who argue that celibacy is passé in the 21st Century, and on the other, the Catholic traditionalists who maintain that Father Cutié has violated some kind of sacred commandment.
But the reality is that celibacy has nothing to do with God or Jesus Christ, and was not included in the founding of the Church. Here's one version of what the Bible has to say on the matter:
So why did the Church start making its initiates take vows of celibacy?
Money. Greed. Filth Lucre. Mammon. Oh, and politics.
Priests were leaving Church property to their heirs. And you know how big a Catholic family can be...
Basically, there was a scam going on: a priest or Bishop would inform someone with land and means that they might burn in hell for their actions (or inactions). But perhaps they could be absolved if they left their lands to the Church. The Duke or Earl or Baron or whoever would sign over his land in return for Salvation.
A lot of rulers started getting upset about this practice; the Church was getting mighty powerful.
Only it wasn't, really. The bishops were getting powerful, because they were leaving these acquisitions to their heirs. So the families of the Bishops were becoming wealthy and powerful, the heads of State were losing revenues from taxes and knights' fees (as a gift to the church, those lands usually became exempt from taxes), and the Pope was getting a lot of heated complaints and little gold out the arrangements.
In 1018, Pope Benedict began to get serious about the matter when he decreed that descendants of priests could not inherit property. The Second Lateran Council finally made celibacy a law of the Church in 1139. The matter was brought up again in the 16th century, when dissenters tried to return to original Church doctrine, but the Council of Trent finalized the doctrine of celibacy in 1563.
Now, to be fair, the Church had tried to instill celibacy as far back as the Spanish Council of Elvira, back in 305.
But the fact remains that celibacy of the priesthood isn't a decree from God or Jesus Christ, it's the mandate of men, intended to solve the worldly problems of the Church, whether it's priests boning their parishioners to the exclusion of their duties or bishops making generous bequests out of the Church's pockets.
And that's absolutely the Church's right. It's a private institution, they can declare any criteria of admission they wish. Cutié knew the rules when he signed up: he took an oath, and he's broken it. They have the right to read him out of the Church if they like.
BTW, we should refer back to the Bible, for God's instructions to Mankind:
But one of the things I do believe in is truth and honesty. There are facts in this world, and no legitimate purpose is served by ignoring those facts. If one has to lie to bolster their faith, then it is not a faith worth holding.
Father Alberto Cutié's involvement with a woman has got people all up at arms: on the one side, his supporters who argue that celibacy is passé in the 21st Century, and on the other, the Catholic traditionalists who maintain that Father Cutié has violated some kind of sacred commandment.
But the reality is that celibacy has nothing to do with God or Jesus Christ, and was not included in the founding of the Church. Here's one version of what the Bible has to say on the matter:
Obviously, Jesus didn't have issues with the the priesthood from gettin' some. In fact, it seems he assumed that anyone interested in the job would have a family.1 Timothy 3
1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
So why did the Church start making its initiates take vows of celibacy?
Money. Greed. Filth Lucre. Mammon. Oh, and politics.
Priests were leaving Church property to their heirs. And you know how big a Catholic family can be...
Basically, there was a scam going on: a priest or Bishop would inform someone with land and means that they might burn in hell for their actions (or inactions). But perhaps they could be absolved if they left their lands to the Church. The Duke or Earl or Baron or whoever would sign over his land in return for Salvation.
A lot of rulers started getting upset about this practice; the Church was getting mighty powerful.
Only it wasn't, really. The bishops were getting powerful, because they were leaving these acquisitions to their heirs. So the families of the Bishops were becoming wealthy and powerful, the heads of State were losing revenues from taxes and knights' fees (as a gift to the church, those lands usually became exempt from taxes), and the Pope was getting a lot of heated complaints and little gold out the arrangements.
In 1018, Pope Benedict began to get serious about the matter when he decreed that descendants of priests could not inherit property. The Second Lateran Council finally made celibacy a law of the Church in 1139. The matter was brought up again in the 16th century, when dissenters tried to return to original Church doctrine, but the Council of Trent finalized the doctrine of celibacy in 1563.
Now, to be fair, the Church had tried to instill celibacy as far back as the Spanish Council of Elvira, back in 305.
We decree that all bishops, priests and deacons in the service of the ministry are entirely forbidden to have conjugal relations with their wives and to beget children; should anyone do so, let him be excluded from the honour of the clergy.Their argument was that when one dedicated one's life to the church, it required one's full attention. Well, you know what they say about Latin Lovers: the council might have had legitimate grounds for complaints.
But the fact remains that celibacy of the priesthood isn't a decree from God or Jesus Christ, it's the mandate of men, intended to solve the worldly problems of the Church, whether it's priests boning their parishioners to the exclusion of their duties or bishops making generous bequests out of the Church's pockets.
And that's absolutely the Church's right. It's a private institution, they can declare any criteria of admission they wish. Cutié knew the rules when he signed up: he took an oath, and he's broken it. They have the right to read him out of the Church if they like.
BTW, we should refer back to the Bible, for God's instructions to Mankind:
Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth...Best of luck, Mr. Cutié. I believe the Lord approves.
Genesis, 1:28
Fantastic!
ReplyDeleteyou have your facts correct, but the Church is more than facts! In my opinion when one enters into a marriage, and that is the sacrament of ordination, one is to remain faithful to one's wife. Fr. Alberto "knew" what he was getting into...all he needed to do is get off, like other have done the right way...asking for permission...he is a "sell out" and a sorrowful casualty of our times!!paerbou
ReplyDeleteThe Church is more than facts, but still much less than God. And God's commandment overrides any quirky little rules the men of the Church create for their own temporal purposes.
ReplyDelete