Cardinal Levada: No 'celibacy issue' exists in reception of Anglicans into Church

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Cardinal William Joseph Levada, Prefect of the CDF

Vatican City, Oct 31, 2009 / 12:13 pm (CNA).- In an extensive clarification released on Saturday by the Vatican press office, Fr. Federico Lombardi made clear, on behalf of the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Joseph Levada, that there is no “celibacy issue” delaying the publication of the Constitution that will establish the procedure for Anglicans to be received into the Catholic Church.

In a statement released in English –breaking the common use of Italian- Fr. Lombardi explained that “there has been widespread speculation, based on supposedly knowledgeable remarks by an Italian correspondent Andrea Tornielli.

The Vatican analyst suggested that the delay in the publication of the Apostolic Constitution on Personal Ordinariates for Anglicans entering into full communion with the Catholic Church is due to "more than ‘technical’ reasons.”

“According to this speculation, there is a serious substantial issue at the root of the delay, namely, disagreement about whether celibacy will be the norm for the future clergy of the Provision,” Fr. Lombardi’s said.

Responding to other claims that the rule of celibacy for Latin rite clergy would be open to discussion, Fr. Lombardi offered the official comments of Cardinal Levada.

“Had I been asked I would happily have clarified any doubt about my remarks at the press conference. There is no substance to such speculation. No one at the Vatican has mentioned any such issue to me.”

According to Cardinal Levada, Pope Benedict’s Apostolic Constitution will be ready “by the end of the first week of November” and its delay “is purely technical in the sense of ensuring consistency in canonical language and references.”

The Prefect of the Congregation also explained that “the drafts prepared by the working group, and submitted for study and approval through the usual process followed by his congregation, have all included the following statement, which is currently Article VI of the Constitution:

- 1. Those who ministered as Anglican deacons, priests, or bishops, and who fulfill the requisites established by canon law and are not impeded by irregularities or other impediments may be accepted by the Ordinary as candidates for Holy Orders in the Catholic Church. In the case of married ministers, the norms established in the Encyclical Letter of Pope Paul VI Sacerdotalis coelibatus, n. 42 and in the Statement "In June" are to be observed. Unmarried ministers must submit to the norm of clerical celibacy of Code of Canon Law 277, §1.

- 2. The Ordinary, in full observance of the discipline of celibate clergy in the Latin Church, as a rule (pro regula) will admit only celibate men to the order of presbyter. He may also petition the Roman Pontiff, as derogation from can. 277, §1, for the admission of married men to the order of presbyter on a case by case basis, according to objective criteria approved by the Holy See.”

Cardinal Levada further explains that “this article is to be understood as consistent with the current practice of the Church, in which married former Anglican ministers may be admitted to priestly ministry in the Catholic Church on a case by case basis.”

With regard to future seminarians, the Cardinal explains that “it was considered purely speculative whether there might be some cases in which a dispensation from the celibacy rule might be petitioned.”

“Objective criteria about any such possibilities (e.g. married seminarians already in preparation) are to be developed jointly by the Personal Ordinariate and the Episcopal Conference, and submitted for approval of the Holy See,” Cardinal Levada said.

Comments: 23

Subscriber comments:

Published by: t_r
WA State USA 11/18/2009 02:09 PM EST

NObody seems to address the great neglect of more than a few celibate priests to the mission of the Church. Some use their single state to advance their own wealth. The downturn in the practice of personal confession is due in part to the mind of some celibate priests who, twenty years ago, did not want to sacrifice the time necessary to be available for scheduled confession time. In my last days in the Roman priesthood, I couldn't call my brother priests on a Sunday afternoon without justifying my "intrusion" to answering services, or answering messages that stipulated that the priest was to be called only in matters of emergency. I'd be more supportative of celibecy, if I saw the celibates treating it like a charism. It's an insult to the priests devoted to celibacy to lump them with those exploiting their single state!

Published by: Helmut Hein
Rex, GA 11/03/2009 03:42 PM EST

Virginity, continency, and celibacy have always been the norm within the Church. After Our Lord selected His apostles, the married ones became continent, they obstained from their marital responsibliities. There are various councils in which this has been addressed, especially at those times when the priesthood strayed from chastity. Even before Our Lord died on the cross the Jewish priest that offered the sacrifice in the temple was required to seperate himself from his wife for seven days to purify himself before offering the sacrifice. The priest is an "alter Christus." We should stop trying to bring what is holy down to our level, and, instead, through the grace of God, use our intellect to elevate ourselves to what is holy.

Published by: Christopher
New York 11/03/2009 09:45 AM EST

Historically, Bishops were (and are even in the Orthodoz Churches) unmarried. Married bishops only exist generaly in the Reformation Churches. However, there is an issue: the Eastern Rite Catholic bodies will ordain married men to the priesthood, but not in the US. Back in the 19th century, the Latin Rite Bishops in the US objected to having married Eastern Rite priests alongside Latin-Rite priests so they got the Holy See to bind even Eastern Rite Catholic Churches to the law of celibacy. I can see a concern among putative members of this proposed new Anglican Rite as to that issue. Is it a "one-off" concession?

Published by: GEORGE
SYDNEY 11/03/2009 02:56 AM EST

Are celibate men any holier than married men by virtue of their celibacy? It is not a question of whether married men should be included as priests but rather why should they be excluded? Jesus did not exclude them, so why should anyone else? For over a thousand years married men were part of the priesthood. They were ones who were clearly involved on a day to day basis in the development of the church bearing witness to Jesus Christ on the front line of society. It is only the Latin rite which excludes married men from the priesthood. Other rites which belong fully to the Catholic Church such as the Coptic, Melchite and Maronite do have married clergy.

Published by: Martin
land O lakes 11/02/2009 10:06 PM EST

I can't imagine how a Priest could have a family and minister to a congregation. A man can not serve two master's. I believe each is a vocation in it's and requires 110% attention to be done properly.

Published by: Graham Combs
Royal Oak, Michigan 11/02/2009 09:50 PM EST

I don't see above the name Archbishop John Hepworth -- the Australian Anglican who was one of the primary petitioners to Rome for Anglican reunion with the Church (specifically, the 400,000 or so members of the Traditional Anglican Church). Archbishop Hepworth has been divorced and remarried and so will lose Holy Orders completely -- as priest and bishop. I call that a sacrifice that many would not make in the name of Catholic orthodoxy. And, my point here, it is this devotion to the Creed, the Sacraments and the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ that should guide us in what will be a difficult reunion, no doubt. Because that is why they petitioned the Church for so many years. And, yes, I am a Catholic convert from Anglicanism -- only this past Easter Vigil.

Published by: norman janke
milwaukee wi.usa 11/02/2009 07:06 PM EST

On this subject ,I think the lord would say"I dont care if priests are married or not,just feed my sheep and get the job done".

Published by: Harold Law
Barrington 11/02/2009 06:45 PM EST

Our Lady of America, Pray for Us! Especially in this time of transition and relativity being fostered by our Church.

Published by: Kathryn
Midland, MI 11/02/2009 03:15 PM EST

I do not believe it has ever been settled on whether or not Peter's wife was alive or deceased at the time he was an apostle, or whether he had living children. Eastern Catholic priests are sometimes married. There is nothing heretical about married priests, although there may be some practical difficulties. Of coures, having single men as priests have proven to have it's practical problems as well.

Published by: tom galardi
dover,, kansas, USA 11/02/2009 03:02 PM EST

Jesus wanted His disciples to minister full time with their lives, not beholden to the considerable time demands of a woman and family. Those of an opposing view are apparently unable to even conceive the reality of men who are willing to sacrifice all pleasures for His sake. Such (non?)-believers have been unduly influenced by unenlightened PROTESTant theology, which cannot understand what total devotion to God means.

Published by: V Seuffert
Oak Park IL 11/02/2009 02:32 PM EST

Actually, there is very little evidence that the apostles were married. The fact that St. Peter's mother-in-law waited on the apostles immediately after her cure leads one to believe that her daughter might have already died. Although marriage was the norm for Jewish men at that time, death was common in young women. There is no reason to believe that Our Lord did not choose men who were free to follow Him without worrying about the needs of a family.

Published by: sharon
sunrise, florida, usa 11/02/2009 01:23 PM EST

Peter was older when he was made Pope. He did not travel with his wife. They never had children. Jesus gave the power to Mother Church. The Magesterium and especially the Pope act through the Holy Spirit. If men want to be priests then they vow celibacy. If they do not want to be celibate, they can leave and get married.As far as the Anglicans, the Pope will made the exceptions. A Roman Catholic priest who keeps his vow of celibacy is a pure vessel and a wonderful gift to his Savior. Peter did not have the counsel of his wife Claudia Marie, he had the counsel of his apostles. His wife was old and did not travel with him.

Published by: Barbara
Idaho USA 11/02/2009 12:04 PM EST

I wish the Anglican married clergy and families well. As anyone noticed that the married clergy's children get shorted time with dad. They are always on call to help with the parishioners problems. I have know several Catholic deacons and protestant kids, PK's who have more than a few difficulties because daddy was always busy with every one else's. Jesus said it himself man cannot have two masters. One master the church, the other master the family. One will be short changed to the determent of the other.

Published by: Claudia-Marie
Sacramento/CA/USA 11/02/2009 11:59 AM EST

The argument had been made that because Jesus Christ did not marry, that that is reason enough for the Latin clergy to not marry. But think of this. Jesus is God Incarnate. He would not marry His creatures. And, not only were St. Peter and many others of the twelve married, but God the Father chose a married man (and not one who "happened" to be married for there were those who were not married as for instance St. Paul) to be the first Pope, and as such, he, Peter, had the counsel of his wife. God the Father wanted women involved in the leadership.

Published by: Henry D
Melville/New york/USA 11/02/2009 11:26 AM EST

How about Roman Catholic priests who left the Catholic Church just so they can get married and then joined the Anglican Church as priests.Can they reconvert back to the Cstholic Church as married priests? I think they cannot unless they gave up their "wives" because their "marriages" were invalid to begin with.Can anyone comment on this?

Published by: Richard
Maple Valley, WA, USA 11/02/2009 11:07 AM EST

Priestly celibacy is a discipline, not a doctrine. It's been that way since the Middle Ages. A council, or the Pope, could decide tomorrow to change it so that priests can marry. But, for now, the discipline is priestly celibacy. There are good arguments for both, and both have their negative aspects as well.

Published by: B Collins
Catonsville, MD 11/02/2009 08:47 AM EST

"Objective criteria", "Personal Ordinariate", "Episcopal Conference",- I can scarcely believe they are serious. These are all potentially in obvious conflict. Downright nonsense. This is a clear opening to a married Roman Rite clergy. History, theology, tradition, and most importantly spirituality, be damned - and don't tell me I'm an alarmist. I think this is nothing but 'Levada-speak', i.e. double-talk.

Published by: Jim Grisham
Dearborn, MI, USA 11/02/2009 06:03 AM EST

As a cradle Catholic, I do not see why Catholic clergy cannot and should not be married. Peter had a mother-in-law, and the apostles and others brought their wives with them on missionary journeys. It always amazes me: Catholics are always told to procreate and have large families, as in Genesis, "Multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it." Apparently the sex act is sacred until one approaches the altar; then it becomes dirty and excludes a person from the priesthood. During the time of Vatican II, a local priest made a similar analogy to transubstantiation, commenting on priests who attempt to ferret out every crumb on the altar, saying, "If Christ was worried about crumbs he would have come in a jelly bean."

Published by: Sr. Catherine Hagaba
Uganda 11/02/2009 03:06 AM EST

WONDERFUL!!

Published by: Pat Fabian
Las Vegas, NV 11/01/2009 08:43 PM EST

Will the Florida priest, who recently married his girl friend and then left the Catholic Priesthood for the Episcopalian Church, be able to rejoin the Church again as an Episcopalian Minister?

Published by: Cradle Catholic
Palo Alto CA USA 11/01/2009 05:36 PM EST

I'm thrilled the Vatican is not making it difficult for married Anglican priests to come to the Roman church. When married bishops are (for lack of better words) demoted to the role of priest, just because they have wives, they will still bring their wisdom and knowledge with them to share with the Roman Church, & good for everyone. It will be humbling for the Anglican married bishop to take a lower role. But St. Paul was able to contribute much to the New Testament, through letters while he was in prison, and St. Paul had no "title" to go before him (except as apostle) and he had only his good reputation. It is the same for the Anglican married bishops - they will lose their title, but they will have their experience and wisdom to bring with them and to share. This is wonderful that the Roman Church is making it easy for the Anglicans to join. All conservative Christians need to stick together, especially with the world and the USA becoming liberal and losing its Christian identity.

Published by: peter hayes
Australia 11/01/2009 03:21 PM EST

The Malkites and Syrian Rite are in full communion with Rome and have Married Clergy. Why not accept the Anglican community with married clergy under the same guidelines. The Anglicans will enrich us in the same way as the Malkites and Syrian rite do. The former Anglican clergy who are now married priests add to the experience pool of the church.

Published by: GFM
St. Louis, MO 10/31/2009 01:53 PM EST

Despite what Levada says there is a celibacy issue. Communion with the Traditional Anglican Communion is a laudable goal, but it does muddy the waters with regard to the Church's teaching on priestly celibacy. A priest cannot be married to both the Church and his wife.

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