I have previously been asked several questions about celibate priests that need some answering in the light of yesterday’s post. Some of these are rather “rough” questions.
1.聽 Don’t you believe that priests who wish to be celibate should have a psychological examination? Answer: Absolutely! I think anyone who wishes to be a priest, celibate or married should have a good psychological once over to make sure that they do not suffer from a religiosity syndrome or are trying to fulfill an authority fantasy, etc., etc. On some days, when I have been on the receiving end of the type of criticism that only “Christians” can truly give to their pastors, I will even be of the opinion that anyone who wishes to be a priest should be considered crazy until proven otherwise. 馃槸
2.聽 What do you think about homosexual priests in the celibate priesthood? Answer: How can you tell if a celibate priest is heterosexual or homosexual? Unless the celibate priest acts out and breaks his vows, is there any way to tell what聽his attractions are? I know that the modern Roman Catholic Church argues that homosexual attractions are an intrinsic disorder so strong that men with homosexual inclinations聽cannot keep their vows. But, please note that the post I wrote yesterday was about a heterosexual priest breaking his vows. While the Roman Catholic scandals in the USA have heavily involved homosexual acts of statutory rape, I have also lived in South America. And, in both Bolivia and Per煤, I have both known and known about Roman Catholic priests who lived with a woman in an unmarried relationship. She was often the “prima” (cousin) or some other explanation. It is an open secret that clerical celibacy does not work perfectly in South America, either. The latest Roman Catholic Church聽scandals in Ireland have involved both homosexual and heterosexual acts.聽The issue is life-long聽self-control, not attraction.
3.聽 Are not celibate priests intrinsically more spiritual? Answer: Definitely not! The only arguments that St. Paul makes for celibacy are two, and both are utilitarian. One is that the end is coming soon, so why marry. The second is that a celibate leader has more time to serve the Lord. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the One who lauds celibates as those who have a special gift from the Lord. But, He does not say that they are more spiritual, only that they have chosen to give up more for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Spirituality is not connected to celibacy. It is connected to prayer, fasting, Scripture reading, worship, etc., etc. Now, because monks have more time to spend in such disciplines, they are often more spiritual, but not always. And, a celibate priest who is assigned to a local parish may not spend more time in the spiritual disciplines but rather on mundane tasks, such as visiting, etc. Finally, St. Timothy is the product of a Christian family whose mother appears to have been something close to a deaconess. Nevertheless, may God grant us many more celibate priests, for we need them.
4.聽 Does not the celibate priesthood save the Church some money? Answer:聽If the priesthood is of mandatory celibacy, like in the Roman Catholic Church, it聽loses money for the Church. If you use a strict accounting, a celibate priesthood appears to save the Church some money. But, when one imposes a mandatory celibacy, the Church actually loses money. A mandatory celibacy means that fewer men are willing to enter the priesthood. Fewer men means that parishes end up being closed or not receiving the pastoral care that they need. And, this means lost souls, under-pastored souls, and, yes, lost donations for the Church. Many men have received a call to the priesthood, but they have not received a call to celibacy. The insistence of the Roman Catholic Church, that celibacy is mandatory, has meant that there are very frustrated men who know they have a call, but also know that they are not called to celibacy. This either means men entering the priesthood who will fall into sin some day (violation of their vows) or it means men who fail to enter the priesthood because they know they are not called to celibacy and thus will not have the support of the Holy Spirit in the celibacy part of their calling.
I do believe in a celibate priesthood for some. But, it must be the result of a calling from the Holy Spirit and not the result of an inappropriate imposition by the Church. To do otherwise is to invite the problems that the Roman Catholic Church has seen in more than one country.
Father, bless!
Just to clarify: when you say “celibate priests” – do you mean monastics or celibate “white clergy”?
Good question. In the USA, the Antiochians have very few monastic clergy, and very few celibate white clergy. The experience I have had has been with celibate white clergy who are involved in reaching out to the world. Thus, I am really speaking about the white clergy rather than the monastic clergy. In other words, I have stuck to what I know rather than to what I do not know. This is always safer. 馃檪
Side note about psychology and evaluations of future priests.
I’ve met a number of Orthodox enamored with modern psychology. I can see why, like I can see why many Orthodox see something in Buddhist monks, or in Charismatics, or CS Lewis. There are many pieces of the puzzle scattered about.
Systematic diagnostics are not one of the tools I would take from modern psychology. If it ever was insightful, it’s lost whatever insight it had. From the MMPI-2 to Myers-Briggs, there’s more snake oil than anything else. I suppose I’d accept more Behaviorist stuff than anything else, but they don’t account for the spiritual dimension. If they don’t share our anthropological model even their best diagnostics will be skewed.
The hearts of men are impossible to know unless the Holy Spirit reveals it. Yes, you can avoid putting people in that would cause a scandal to the Church (as the Apostles and Fathers instruct) but there’s no way to know if an alcoholic might be the best priest.
A monk who attends our parish has become precious to me. He as recently made a deacon, but he it was long ago he was doing time for DUI and had squandered much of his adult life. Perhaps the prudent call is not always the one the Holy Spirit calls for.
Anyone who’s looked into the mirror and seen even the surface of his own sin must be amazed that anyone could be trusted with being a priest. This is why I pray for my spiritual father and my Bishop. My prayers are nothing to speak of, but in the battle they must fight they need even my minuscule contribution.
You are ever so correct! That is why the final decision belongs to the bishop and not to a board or to a committee or to an outside evaluator. A good bishop knows that psychological evaluations, interviews, letters of reference, etc., are only tools. Ultimately, the bishop relies on his wisdom and on what insight the Holy Spirit will give him.
Having said that, we also have some examples of some very bad choices by bishops that looked very good to all the appropriate committees. Externals help, but, as you point out, only the Holy Spirit knows the heart of human beings.
Fr. Ernesto,
Excellent points. IMO this is an issue that the RCC must address and soon. I agree with you that there is a place for a celibate priesthood but only as a calling. Mandated celibacy opens the door to all manner of sin and deviance. I also feel that it puts the clergy at a disadvantage with respect to pastoral/counseling duties, especially those related to marital and parenting issues. Experience is priceless when trying to fill such roles.