1. FREE Dinner: Tomorrow (4/14), 5:30 pm, SSM Parish Hall. Also, raffle for gift certificates.
2. "Angels and demons": Sunday (4/17) night discussion, 6:30 & 8:30 pm, Parish Hall.
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As positively as the secular media has been covering the life of Pope John Paul II, it has also negatively criticized some of his teachings. He is depicted as "out of touch" or "too conservative" on issues such as female priests, married priests, homosexual unions, abortion, contraception, and embryonic stem-cell research. So, it routinely asks, 'will the next Pope change the Church's teachings on these issues?'
Almost all of these teachings are based on doctrines of the Church. Doctrines can't be changed because they are "truths contained in divine Revelation or ...truths having a necessary connection with these" (CCC, #88). In other words, they are based on what God himself has taught. The teachings of an all-male priesthood, marriage, and the sanctity of life all fall into the category of doctrine.
'What about celibacy for priests? Can that change?', you ask. Yes, because it is a discipline, not doctrine. In fact, the Church didn't institute the discipline of celibacy for priests until about the 11th century AD. Will it change back? Maybe, but I wouldn't bet on it during our lifetimes. The Church has acknowledged that celibacy is a supernatural gift for some people.
Celibacy is a different kind of love. It allows one to love all people in the same way; in this sense, it is loving as God loves. Christ himself was a celibate man. He gave himself fully to all. He allows those to whom He is giving the gift of celibacy to share in this sacrificial kind of love.
Jesus refers to celibacy in Matthew 19:12 when he says that there are some who forsake marriage "for the sake of the kingdom". As someone who is looking to promise celibacy this December, I see this as a precious gift from Christ himself. It is a great sacrifice, but not overly burdensome or unfair. What a great honor to be able to give my life for the sake of His kingdom!
In a special way, however, priests do get married. They marry the Church when they promise celibacy, as Christ is married to the Church (see Ephesians 5). I have experienced a form of this type of marriage this year at St Stephen's (kinda like an engagement). I have fallen in love with the parishioners and GW students, and given myself to serve them and the Lord as best I can. It has been extremely satisfying, freeing, enjoyable, and rewarding. In a word: awesome!!
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Your comments are welcome.
1 comment:
Thanks, ep, for what you wrote. I'm glad if what I wrote helped you and others understand celibacy; that was the aim. As with many things with the Church, people's minds and hearts are normally opened when they actually hear what the teaching behind celibacy is because it is quite beautiful and sensible.
Personally, I wouldn't say it's a good thing if a Pope is conservative. First of all, 'conservative' and 'liberal' are not terms used officially by the Church; they are more for the political arena. Secondly, I would say that it is a good thing if he is traditional because it means he will preserve the tradition of our Church.
If I'm talking to a Catholic, I would say this: to be Catholic is to follow the teachings of the Catholic Church. To be Jewish is to follow the teachings of the Jewish faith. And so on with any faith. And, especially if you're the leader of the Catholic Church, I would think you would want to uphold the teachings of your Church, no?
Now, if this Catholic disagrees with certain teachings of the Church, then he/she is saying that they know better than the Church. They know better than 2000 years of tradition that is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. Who are they to make such a claim? And, on what authority do they base their alternative teachings?
If I'm talking to a non-Catholic, I would present the same general point that a traditional Pope will preserve what it means to ne Catholic. Any sensible person will acknowledge that that is legitimate. If they say that the Church needs to change its teachings, I would ask what they know about its teachings, and hopefully correct any misunderstandings.
More often than not with non-Catholics (and with some Catholics), it's more of a problem of misunderstanding what the Catholic Church teaches than anything else. If explained in the right way, this non-Catholic will at least see the reasons behind certain teachings and maybe even agree with them. It is, after all, the Truth about God and life.
If I'm talking with someone who completely disagrees that a traditional Pope is a good thing (whether Catholic or non), then I would emphasize that this was not a human choice only. It was the Holy Spirit who elected this Pope through the cardinals. And if this person is like an American man interviewed today in Rome, he/she might say what this man said on NBC: "I wish the Holy Spirit was more creative in who He picked as Pope", or something very similar to that.
Wow, that's an arrogant statement. Judging God: who does that? And, that's the basic point to anyone who questions the election of Benedict XVI: they question the Holy Spirit Himself. The Holy Spirit has been guiding the Catholic Church for 2000 years, and continued to do so in a major way today. That's why I am so excited about our new Pope. He was picked by God the Father to be our next Shepherd, and the Holy Spirit made that clear to the cardinals the past 2 days.
Maybe that will be too much for any of your friends to digest and believe, but it's the Truth! God has spoken, and we rejoice! We have a pope!!
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