Celibacy and the Priesthood (Updated from 5/30/2014)

"The first thousand years of church history, celibacy was expected but it wasn't required. In the second thousand years, they mandated it. It's what we call a discipline...In other words; it's a man-made kind of rule. It's not the like Jesus and the Resurrection and Easter. So they can change this if they want. It's like changing [eating] meat on Friday. Will they change it? I don't know.''

-- Bill Donohue, Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights

Like so many rules that become a part of religious "lore," few have any basis in the teachings of a given prophet.  As stated above, these are man-made rules that probably had some purpose back in the day.  Take the Hebrew stance against eating pork.  It was dangerous, back in the day, to eat this unclean animal.  Nowadays, prepared right, pork is very safe and popular.  Rules like this hearken back to when doing the right thing meant not getting sick and living longer.  Jews were long considered witches for this very reason.  While everyone else was dying of the Black Plague, most Jews would go on about their daily business simply because of their cleanliness.  Almost every aspect of Hebrew life and culture was in place for a reason.

I think celibacy found a home in Christianity because "mass transit," circa 50 A.D., was a pair of sandals.  For an Apostle or a priest to travel any distance to spread the Gospel, they would be gone constantly.  Where is there room for marriage?  So, if you were to be of any value, it made sense that devoting yourself to your work was a more reasonable path.  But travel has come a long way.  Too bad the priesthood didn't keep up. I still think Simon Peter was a closet homosexual, and Jesus had no clue, as upon this rock of a man, he would build his congregation.  Oops...

Mass transit and mass media of the 20th century should have made this rule moot.  The onset of computer technology should have put a nail in the coffin of priestly celibacy.  But wasn't it all about control?  Maybe, it was about a "good old boys club."  Regardless, I think we can see what the ultimate price for this lack of female influence has cost mankind, and the church, throughout history.  Men in serious need of getting laid were the cause of the Crusades, the Inquisition, spending untold fortunes building Vatican City, and wholesale slaughter of the Aztec culture, not to mention the recent spate of sexual misconduct with children (which has probably been going on since day one).

"So they can change this if they want."  Considering the Christian priestly past, maybe this is long overdue.  Other sects of Christianity allow priests to marry.  It seemed to work out fine.  At least we have yet to hear of any little boys being diddled in their parishes, although I think these other sects had a hand in more than one American Indian campaign where women and children were slaughtered.  Do we chalk that up as youthful exuberance in the military?  Hmmm.

This is all just the opinion of an old ex-Catholic that never understood how a priest could give any counseling on subjects they know nothing about.  Smoking, alcoholism, diddling children, and celibacy would seem right up their alley, however.  This is an uncalled-for view, and I apologize.  It does not give enough credit to those modern-day priests that have contributed so much to medicine, science, and philosophy.  

The problem here lies with the old saying by John Northebrooke in 1577, "A penny naughtily gotten, sayth Chysotoms, is like a rotten apple laid amoung sounde apples, which will rot all the rest."  In the 1300's Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales quotes an even older version of the proverb, "A rotten apple's better thrown away Before it spoils the barrel."

Maybe it isn't too late to salvage Catholicism.  If we can get some women into the priesthood, the Catholic church will finally come up to date and into its own in the 21st century.

Too much?

As usual, this is just my humble opinion, and it could very well be wrong and disputed at length by anybody too closed-minded to consider change as anything but evil.  Everyone has the right to an opinion.  Please, be sure to share yours with the world in the spirit of a peaceful, creative debate and discussion.

God be with us all.

Note:  I posted this earlier than I intended to, for The Sunday Thought, on June 1, 2014.  I was to be traveling to my new adventures in Mississippi at the time.  I did not want to deprive my readers of their "much" anticipated "pastoral" opinion.  However, like the Sears & Roebuck catalog of old, I was sure my posts were being read just before being used as free butt wipe (deletion makes so much more sense than using catalog paper to wipe one's derrière).

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch - it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either view any more right or wrong than the other. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint.

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions offered. After over twenty years of military intelligence, I believe that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience... and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.

Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As a weapon for his war on intolerance... he chose the pen. He wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

 Feel free to contact Pastor Tony at: tolerantpastor@gmail.com