Priests and Marriage

Interesting news broke recently when Father Alberto Cutie, an internationally known Catholic priest who admitted having a romantic affair and breaking his vow of celibacy, joined the Episcopal Church where he will be pursue priesthood.

This follows a great deal of discussion around whether the Catholic Church should revisit the tenet of obligatory celibacy for Catholic priests. I had browsed a title of one commentary blaring "Celibacy should be rethought" and my knee-jerk reaction was this was a typical secularist attack on tradition with superficial arguments of societal changes and such - pretty much ignoring the very essence of why I at least presume and hope that people join the priesthood in the first place. That is, how might I best give myself to the Lord?

I was pleasantly surprised that the editorial wasn't anti-Christian or anti-Catholic rhetoric being spewed by a humanist who hated all of the "antiquated" ideals of religion. It was actually a well though out and church-centric composition coming from a Rev. Donald Cozzens, a Catholic priest and theology professor who is presumably celibate. So instead of anti-religion rhetoric spewing the superiority of postmodern thinking, what the article addresses church doctrine and the high regard of both the priesthood and the sacraments. Cozzens asks, "Isn't it possible that God would call an individual to the priesthood and to the sacrament of marriage?" 

Cozzens understands that celibacy is a gift, and a valued one, per 1 Corinthians 7, particularly verses 32 through 35. But he also makes the point that there is nothing that ties that particular gift as a prerequisite to church-based ministry. Even retired archbishop of New York, Cardinal Edward Egan believes that obligatory celibacy is not a matter of dogma, and thus open for discussion. For Protestants who live in the sola scriptura realm, the lack of connection between the gift of singleness and church-based ministry has largely made celibacy a non-issue for those considering a call to ministry. This burden is very real for Catholics brothers who are considering the ministry. As Cozzens notes:

I wonder if church officials understand the burden they place on the shoulders of a man who believes he is called to priestly ministry but not to celibacy. Certainly, a married priesthood will have burdens of its own and, sadly, scandals of its own -- infidelity and abuse among others. But it should be left to the individual priest and seminarian to determine whether or not he is blessed with the gift of celibacy. A mandated "gift," after all, is really no gift at all.

Yes, a married priesthood will not be immune from scandals, but then again, it's not as if the Catholic Church hasn't been through this fire drill up to their necks in the past decade. The greater tragedy, I fear, will be hundreds if not thousands of men who want to serve Christ and the Church in ministry who will have to make a false choice not to do.