Expert Vatican psychiatrist: 'Celibacy is a provocation' to a superficial world

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Rome, Italy, Oct 20, 2008 / 11:39 pm (CNA).- Manfred Lutz, a psychiatrist with the Congregation for the Clergy, has responded in an extensive article to those who consider celibacy not to be "natural" and explained that the discipline is not only necessary for priests and religious to fully live out their vocations, but that it is also a "provocation" to a superficial world that does not believe in life after death.

In the article published by the L'Osservatore Romano, Lutz commented that celibacy represents "a permanent protest against collective superficiality." It proclaims that "the earthly world, with its joys and sufferings, is not all there is."

One who cannot renounce the exercise of sexuality is not capable "of joining in a marital union" either, Lutz continued. Looking upon women as "the object of satisfaction of a personal impulse plays a key role in the criticism of celibacy," he stated. Lutz also noted that there are even times when spouses cannot "fully exercise their sexuality, as in the case for example of a temporary illness or a permanent handicap. In these cases, a spousal relationship that is truly profound is not destroyed but rather enriched.”

“In the same way,” Lutz continued, “the issue of celibacy should not be made into an issue merely of genital sexuality, but rather should be seen as a determined form of relationship that allows for a profound relationship with God and fruitful relationship with the persons confided to the pastoral care of the priest."

Celibacy, Lutz argued, enables a priest to engage more intensely in spiritual direction. "It is not true that spiritual guidance for couples would be better if it were given by spouses. Such a guide always runs the risk of unconsciously reliving the experiences of his or her own marriage and of transforming his or her own emotions into actions through a psychological mechanism without reflection."

"For this reason," he continued, "such a guide needs solid monitoring to prevent this from happening. On the other hand, a good spiritual guide has considerable existential experiences with many married couples, and therefore can reach out to the most difficult cases. This explains, for example, the surprising fruitfulness of the writings on marriage of that great shepherd of souls, the Servant of God John Paul II."

Noting that celibacy is not for narcissists who are always looking to be the center of attention, Lutz recalled that the priest "should always be interested in other human beings and their misery, he should forget about himself and should make visible through his words the splendor of God before his own sufferings."

Comments: 8

Subscriber comments:

Published by: David
Miami, FL USA 05/07/2009 06:15 AM EST

Saint Peter clearly left his spouse to follow Christ (who was definitely unmarried, despite Da Vinci Code assertions)

St. Peter asked Our Lord, “What about us? We left all we had to follow you.” The Divine Master answered: “I tell you solemnly, there is no one who has left house, wife, brothers, parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not be given repayment many times over in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life” (Lk 18:28-30, cf. Mt 19:27-30; Mk 10:20-21).

Matt. 19:11-12 - Jesus says celibacy is a gift from God and whoever can bear it should bear it.

Matt. 19:29 - Jesus says that whoever gives up children for the sake of His name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life.
Matt. 22:30 - Jesus explains that in heaven there are no marriages. Priests live the heavenly consecration to God by not taking a wife in marriage. This way, priests are able to focus exclusively on the spiritual family, and not have any additional pressures of the biological family.
Rev. 14:4 - unlike our sinful world of the flesh, in heaven, those consecrated to virginity are honored.
The Church declares marriage sacred, covenantal and life-giving. Paul is referring to doctrines that forbid marriage and other goods when done outside the teaching of Christ and for a lessor good. Celibacy is an act of giving up one good (marriage and children) for a greater good (complete spiritual union with God).

Published by: Steven
South Bend, Indiana, USA 11/06/2008 11:50 PM EST

I'm a little tired of hearing that a married priest would be distracted by family/wife because that argument is disingenuous and one simply of convenience. I think it dishonors wives and families to make this argument - and it saddens me that the Church, which claims to value families so highly, so thoroughly fails to see and assert the support and benefit that springs from them. The Church in this context talks of family/wives only as if they are burdens and not helps. Yes, married priests would ahve different challenges in some respects, but they would also have some challenges lessened, allowing them to focus more on ministry. We should have more regard for the benefits than the Church demonstrates. Plus, it is historically disingenuous. Christ did not call only single men to serve as aspostles, and did not require it. Neither did the Church for nearly half its history. So I have to wonder if the Church does not at least allow some loosening of the discipline because it fears a loss of control. Mandatory celibacy is costing the faith more than it is serving the faith, and not simply or even most importantly because of the crisis caused by the shrinking number of priests.

Published by: steven
south bend, Indiana, USA 11/06/2008 11:40 PM EST

I do not believe that celibacy is necessary for devotion to God and service to man, and it is factually dishonest to ignore that Jesus's own apostles and the priests of the Church for nearly half its existence were not married men. This shows it is not being celibate is not necessary to serve God fully. The argument that wives/families are distractions dishonors the family and its place as a source of strength turning both into merely distractions. There would be some different challenges for married priests, but also benefits. The Church may choose its own path of course but on this issue, it is not cleary something that Christ himself required. I believe at this point in history it is costing the Church, our faith, and the priests more than the "cost" of the challenges marriage would bring.

Published by: Gibbons Burke
Austin, Texas 10/23/2008 11:16 AM EST

I agree, TTM. Perhaps a better way to phrase it, to address Sister Zelda's concern, is "chastity according to one's state in life" (instead of 'celibacy' ) "represents a permanent protest against collective superficiality". When a married couple are living chastely according to their situation they may not be celibate, but are true to their mutual vows of fidelity and openness to God's procreative miracle.

In the same way, unmarried priests are living in a state of chastity appropriate to their station, which means, normally, a state of celibacy. (We have a married priest converted from the Episcopal church in our parish.)

Published by: TTM
NZ 10/21/2008 11:10 PM EST

Sister Zelda,

It seems to me that marriage, too, is in fact "a permanent protest against collective superficiality". We're all in this together, and celibacy is one mode of living it.

Published by: Ron Eclavea
Guam 10/21/2008 10:33 PM EST

I totally agree with the article. Mandatory Celibacy is a choice. If celibacy is not your cup of tea, don't be priest. A married man is concerned and occupied with his wifes/family needs. This greatly interferes with the priests ministerial duties to the flock. A priest duties and resposibilities are practically 24 hrs. Imagine calling a priest for the sacrament of extreme unction and his wife goes into labor or he's preoccupied at his son's first baseball game and is at bat.

Published by: Sister Zelda
Chicago IL USA 10/21/2008 09:22 AM EST

Rate: Regular

When I read that celibacy is "a permanent protest against collective superficiality," I am disturbed because I do not consider my parents caught in collective superficiality. The institutional church does not court favor with such derogatory depiction of contemporary believers.

Published by: Matthew Joseph
Chicago,IL USA 10/21/2008 08:34 AM EST

Rate: Good

I do agree with some points. But there are married couples who are celibit sexually but the are still married. There companion in life and christ. It should not be mandatory for being a priest it should be a choice and those who truly abstain get rewarded for doing so. The Father created woman for man to share in the journey in this life that doesn't mean sexuality becuase those who are married pretty much become celibate anyway. Also if it were mandatory from Yeshua He would not have chosen peter and james and andrew and james to carry out His message becuase these where married men.God Bless and Peace always in Yeshua. Matthew

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