Until today, we thought there were no more laughs to be gained from necessity of being celibate to bring the Eucharist to the Flock as Christ told us. And we are including the contribution made by the Bishop of Shrewsbury, already mentioned. In all charity, we’re not going to mention this priest’s name, or the website it’s in. We don’t make these things up, as you will know, If only we had to ! But it’s worth a laugh .
As we all know, it is beginning to be recognised what a stupid thing it was to make celibacy compulsory in the 12th century, to prevent the priest’s family from selling off the church buildings once he died. It should have taken only a century or so’s thought to find some other way. Instead it’s been going on since then, with who knows what damage to the Church. Like, say, the Reformation for starters?
Anyway, God bless him, he’s doing his best.
He says that the debate on married clergy ‘often focuses on pragmatic questions , it usually ignores the rich theological reasons behind the celibate priesthood’. If there has ever been the slightest doubt about celibacy being an obstacle in providing the Eucharist, we would say that that is so pragmatic a question it takes us right back to the Last Supper. Even after a minute or two’s thought, we have to admit that this is a point which has to put the Incarnation in question. Just a thought.
‘Jesus Christ Himself never married, and there’s something about imitating the life our Lord in full that is very attractive’ he tells us. I think we have to wonder how far making the lives of priests in the 21st century attractive is part of the Gospel message . It is certainly not mentioned at the Last Supper.
We have often felt that the Tridentine priesthood likes to give itself a pat n the back for celibacy, but his next remark takes this point of view unbelievably far into the next world. Ready?
‘Christ himself said that no one would be married or given in marriage in heaven and therefore celibacy is a sign of the beatific vision’ (name of priest) pointed out.
We recovered only briefly from paroxsysms of laughter, to fall into them again at the phrase ‘pointed out’. ‘Married life will pass away when we behold God face to face and become part of the bridal church’ (name) added. ‘The celibate is more of a direct symbol of that ‘
As we used to say when we were young, ‘Waow!’
It’s quite sad, all this. All we can do is pray for people who still think making sure that world gets the Eucharist is less important than getting it from unmarried men.