What a sad situation that has befallen the parish in Coventry, where a priest who has had to leave in order to be with the person he loves has been replaced by a priest who has a wife and children (News, 13 December.)
How foolish too that this irony was brought about by the imposition of celibacy on the clergy centuries ago as a mainly practical measure to ensure ecclesiastical property wasn’t inherited by clergy offspring! It was justified by a (deficient) theology of sexuality that saw the sexual act as somehow incompatible with ordained ministry, especially with the celebration of the Eucharist. Even before the universal imposition of clerical celibacy, married priests were encouraged to abstain from the conjugal act the night before they celebrated Mass, something that the advent of daily mass made difficult to observe.
Celibacy can only be a positive state and witness if embraced and lived freely “for the sake of the kingdom” rather than imposed as a necessary pre-condition to ordination or of remaining in ministry.
The apostle Paul said: “better to marry than burn” (1 Cor 7:8-9). For historic reasons the Latin Church has chosen to ignore that apostolic injunction in the case of its clergy.
For all sorts of reasons, not least because there are a growing number of communities that are unable to observe the Lord’s command: “Do this in memory of me”, obligatory celibacy ought to be reviewed. By comparison with this foundational command of the Lord, obligatory priestly celibacy is a discipline that has long since lost its purpose and, the respect of many of the people, and maybe is now even hampering the Church in fulfilling the Lord’s command.
Celibacy freely embraced and positively lived out is a great witness to a person’s faith and gives a freedom which can only be a great gift to the Church; but where it is imposed and resented, compensations maybe sought that can destroy not only that person but the community around them too.
I write as a priest of 45 years who in recent years has been deeply impressed by the selfless dedication and witness of married permanent deacons and even more recently many married (ex-Anglican) priests.
Pope Francis has invited bishops and hierarchies to think outside the box in coming up with solutions to problems within their own territory. I hope our bishops are brave enough to do so before the walls of the box crumble away and leave them, and indeed all of us, with nowhere to go!
Fr Paul Chamberlain, Co Donegal
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