Priest shortage stems from crisis of faith, ignorance of the infinite, not celibacy, say Bishops

News Resources Tools Columns Documents ACI Group

Contenidos del sub-menu

Comments: 19

Vatican City, Oct 13, 2005 / 12:00 am (CNA).- Speaking to reporters at a press conference today following the presentation of a new working document for the General Synod of Bishops, currently being held in the Vatican, bishop delegates said that priest shortages in many parts of the world are not the result of celibacy, as many suggest, but of a crisis of faith and a misunderstanding of the divine. Present in the Holy See Press office were the Synod's three president delegates, Cardinals Francis Arinze, Juan Sandoval Iñiguez and Telesphore Placidus Toppo, as well as Archbishop John Patrick Foley, president of the Commission for Information of the Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, and Bishop Sofron Stefan Mudry O.S.B.M., vice-president of the same commission.

Asked why, given the lack of priests in some regions, the solution of priestly ordination of married men was still being put in doubt, Cardinal Toppo told reporters that "the real problem is a crisis of faith, the lack of priests is a symptom of that crisis."

Likewise, Cardinal Sandoval cited other reasons for the shortage of priests, namely, "a lack of faith, secularization, and the closing of the window onto infinity."

Ukrainian Bishop Mudry added that, despite the fact that Eastern Catholic Churches admit married priests, this does not solve the problem because "they also have to dedicate time to their families ... and its is difficult for them to move to another area to continue their mission, if their bishop so requests."

The question of celibacy and of a lack of priests has been steadily discussed throughout the course of the Synod, as have other controversial questions like reception of the Eucharist for some non, and estranged Catholics.

Speaking on divorced people being permitted to communion, Cardinal Arinze said that the Church "shows compassion to these people who are suffering, and although they cannot partake of communion - because their position does not reflect the image of unity between Christ and the Church (bridegroom and bride) - they continue to be members of the Church."

As to the question posed by some Synod Fathers of greater homogeneity of enculturation, Cardinal Toppo stressed that this "is essential, and is the expression of a people's faith." Cardinal Sandoval added: "what is important is that hymns, dance, color, etc., help to encourage interior life, to unite oneself with the Lord, and that the ceremony does not become merely a show for entertainment."

Cardinal Arinze said added that he was particularly struck by the desire of Synod participants to more fully transmit the faith to their flocks and "to 'ars celebrandi,' that the faith upon which the people of God have fed in the church may accompany them when they leave the building, and encourage them to share what they have received with others."

Comments: 19

Subscriber comments:

Published by: ted wood
canada 11/10/2005 06:29 PM EST

Just to rub it in you guys.A Priest is an ALTER CHRIST, offering the HOLY SACRIFICE thru the HOLY MASS on behalf of us for the LIVING and the DEAD, inthe PERSONA of CHRIST. To question the sexuality of a PRIEST, the dispeser of graces by means of the HOLY SACRAMENTS is FOUL the least Nobody believes in the PRIESTHOOD any more (I am the only one)as today it is more of a JOB to entertain in clownsuit behind the table the audienc It makes you all feel good. 'Father Benedicts' response here below is nauseating Cetainly NOT CATHOLIC.

Published by: jimmy araba parata
uganda east africa 10/24/2005 01:22 AM EST

Im really disapointed with the way aroan mayanja thinks the fact is that let us receive the work as it has been will be and shall be forever the truth is hard to follow (Jesus had it very rough though he was son of God)you either take it or stay aside(namugongo shrine uganda)

Published by: Father Benedict
Chicago Illinois USA 10/17/2005 10:55 AM EST

Who were the representatives or vicars of Christ after his departure: mainly married men and single women who were made deaconesses by the people of God. The single men, like John and his followers, were probably gay. None were clerics, all were secular or lay people.

Published by: Aoron Mayanja
USA 10/15/2005 11:55 PM EST

I am really disappointed that some Catholic church leaders are not responding adequately to the controversial issues regarding healthy human sexuality of the priests today. Do some people understand that priests are human beings? Why so many sex scandals? What is wrong having married priests? Did the priests we have today not come from marriages/families or they dropped from heaven as some people think? Let catholic priests get married. This will save us the embarrassment of pedophilia,gay relations, priests having children on the side,priests befriending other peoples wives,potential priests declining to embrace this celibacy, some priets leaving, etc......

Published by: Robert
UK 10/14/2005 04:39 PM EST

This crisis will never be solved while people like Conchita misinterpret heterosexuality to mean homophobia. She similarly misinterprets homosexuality to mean pedophilia. Any chance to make these people read their dictionaries?

Published by: Alice Olsefski
Rochester,NY USA 10/14/2005 01:10 PM EST

We will have more priest after we get rid of the Bishops who are turning them away because they are too ORTHODOX. In other words, if they say they do not believe women should be priest or that homosexuals shoud be admitted to the the seminary, they will not get a recomendation from their Bishop. God Bless You Alice

Published by: wauneta geno
st. louis mo. usa 10/14/2005 12:33 PM EST

Why does Crdl. Arinze state that divorce persons may not receive communion? As long as they do not remarry, it is our understanding that they may still receive communion. Yes/no??

Published by: Norman Adams
Canandaigua NY 10/14/2005 10:50 AM EST

Jesus was obedient to His Father's will. The Saints were obedient to their superiors. Maybe we should also be obedient to The LORD's Church and pray for her priests.

Published by: Jacob
Dawson, GA 10/14/2005 10:49 AM EST

As a young man hoping to soon enter seminary, I am deeply concerned about admitting married men and homosexuals. These two reasons are why I have NOT entered the seminary as of yet. It is very difficult for a traditional, straight Roman Catholic to learn liberal theology which leads only to destruction of the soul of the Church.

Published by: Joyce M. Lightner
Oconto, Wi. USA 10/14/2005 10:36 AM EST

The main reason for a shortage of priest, I think is because couples have refused to have more than 2.3 children and they practice birth control so their faith is not strong and they don't set a good example of following the laws of Our Holy Roman Catholic Church. Birth control is the main cause of shortage of priest, I believe. We must get back to the truths of our Faith, and proclaim it from the pulpits, so there is not confusion about what is right and what is wrong. We all need conversions and we all need to pray more, especially the Holy Mass and the Rosary of Our Blessed Mother. Thank you

Published by: Caroline
Canada 10/14/2005 10:17 AM EST

We must pray for all priests for these are His chosen ones to represent Him. I am deeply disturbed that priests can call themselves gay and priests. Priests who profess to be gay, do not belong on the alter. From some of the articles I've been reading - gay seems to come first. Our world has become deeply seeped in sin and we must pray much. Lord Jesus, give us Holy Priests.

Published by: Nancy
SC 10/14/2005 09:47 AM EST

I could not agree more with the observations of the Bishops. It is a sign of the times, everything is instant today, everything is so fast paced and crazy. We are all working more hours and getting less time to be with our families.

Our lives today are not like the lives our parents lived. Society does not appreciate prayer or God.

But at the same time I really believe people do want more, they want to be fed. The church should do more to reach out to those 30/40 something catholics to feed their souls, and at the same time reach their children at a young age and foster vocations as a very honorable profession.

Its very important that catholics understand the beauty of the priesthood and communicate that to their children. We can't expect the outside world to understand, and we really shouldn't care. They didn't understand Jesus either.

An increase in the priesthood will occur when the church reaches out to parents and brings about a renewed commitment to the faith.

Published by: Michael Sullivan
Chicago, IL 10/14/2005 09:28 AM EST

I pray that the bishops will highlight the link between contraception and the priest shortage. Priests tend to come from large families; contraception has had the dual effect of placing a large population of Catholics in mortal sin (crisis of faith) and thinned out the traditionally large stock of souls for God. The Bishops should more vigorously attack contraception with JP II's Theology of the Body. If they do, they will have to start building new seminaries.

Published by: Ken Monaco
USA 10/14/2005 08:17 AM EST

Will someone please answer me why Jesus picked a married man, Peter, to be the rock upon which HE built HIS Church??? Jesus did not mandate celibacy for HIS main man, our first Pope....Jesus had confidence that the rock would be able to carry out his mission in a married state...Jesus even cured Peter's mother inlaw.......I think the old fuddy duddy's are bitter because they could not have families, why should new priests..Then some in Rome are citing the cost of a family would be tough on a church community..What a bunch of crap....You think its easier paying millions and millions in lawsuit settlements ???Then relocation of a priest with a family was cited as difficult....People relocate with families all the time....I'm very disappointed in how our Church has addressed the priest shortage...It has protected gays for years because some of the hierarchy are gay themselves.....the path of Jesus has been compromised big time by abberant clergy behavior and then covered up our Church Fathers to protect the reputation of the Church......Jesus surely would have cleaned out this temple too.....

Published by: Janette Phillips
Clinton, CT USA 10/14/2005 08:15 AM EST

I'm happy to see that the Bishops meeting in Rome realy 'get it'. In the US I have been teaching Catechism for 8 years. My observation is that most are cultural catholics -- catholics in name only -- getting their sacraments and 'graduating'. Many of our children are dropped off for catechism by parents who don't foster teachings of the faith at home and do not attend Mass. Many who attend Mass do not do so on a regular basis -- they are 'too busy'. Families have made their children the 'God' of the family -- everything evolves around the schedules of the children -- sports, music lessons, etc. Families rarely have dinner together any longer. God is no longer the center of their family -- there is a disorder within the family unit when God is not first, spouses next, and children last. Children arn't being raised to understand that their vocation comes from God and He should be continuely consulted for direction. Instead we are raising children to be engineers, nurses, etc. with no regard to the option of a religious life. We no longer see nuns in habit -- how is a girl to be reminded that this is an option for them if they don't see nuns ! Children receive a watered-down version of the true faith, hence they leave and often end up in other Christian denominations as adults -- they never get that only the Catholic faith offers the real prescence of Christ in the Eucharist and Blessed Sacrement. we need a RADICAL change in the way we catechise our families !

Published by: Mr Goggy
England 10/14/2005 04:25 AM EST

Married priests does not solve the problem? But a priest who spends time with his family and can't easily move is better than no priest!

Published by: conchita
s.f. ca usa 10/13/2005 04:13 PM EST

you can pray and pray to find solutions on the shortages of good, straight priests and nuns, till you die, to no avail. unless you clean out the homosexuals or pro-homsexuals from the seminaries and convents, like the professors, lay and priests, the rectors,the seminary heads, generals like the jesuits, who are liberals, modernists, relativists, etc, nunca, no straight young men and women would try to enter and just be contaminated by the rampant dirty practices inside. unless the pope and the bishops consecrate RUSSIA to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, nunca, only the Holy Ghost can help you. God will bless you with holy priests and nuns, besides, plus blessings and blessings, as before vatican council 2, the vermint of satan that you allowed to seep in. May God have mercy upon us sinners.

Published by: Deacon Joseph B. Pellegrino
Montesano Wa. USA 10/13/2005 04:02 PM EST

It is not a matter of logistics one way or the other. It is a matter of disobedience to the word of God in Old Testament Scriptue and New Testament Scripture. It is also about God telling Moses which type of womwn Aaron and his sons "Must" marry, and about Christ choosing marriad men as his disciples I Cor 9: 5
And Pauls instructions to Timothy I Tim 3:1-7, and to Titus I: 5-8 furthermore his warning to Timothy on false ascetecism I Tim 4:1-5
These the words of God and especially coming from Paul who personally did not agree with marriage, but his ministry was not to preach his word but the fathers word. As he said in Galatians I:6-9
6. I am amazed that you are so quickly forsaking the one who called you by [the] grace [of Christ] for a different gospel
7. (not that there is another). But there are some who are disturbing you and wish to pervert the gospel of Christ.
8. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach [to you] a gospel other than the one that we preached to you, let that one be accursed!
9. As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than the one that you received, let that one be accursed!
Sacred Tradition certainly supported the word also. So I repeat it is not logistics but disobedience that has led you to the abominable state of the clergy.
Deacon Joseph

Published by: John Healy
Washington, DC 10/13/2005 02:36 PM EST

I'll bet 100 to 1 that Cardinal Toppo has not collected any data on why young men are not becoming priests. Anyone who could say that the reason is "the closing of the window onto infinity" must be on psychotropic drugs.

ADD A COMMENT (Your e-mail will NOT be published):


NAME:
CITY/STATE/COUNTRY:
EMAIL:
COMMENT:

PLEASE ENTER THE SECURITY CODE DISPLAYED ABOVE:
Chars:

* Thanks for your comments. The number of messages that can be online is limited. Length should not exceed 1500 characters. CNA reserves the right to edit messages for content and tone. Comments and opinions expressed by users do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of CNA. CNA will not publish comments with abusive language, insults or links to other pages.

ADVERTISING
CNA does not necessarily endorse these advertisers. Please proceed with discretion. If you feel that a website announced has inappropriate or offensive content, please send it by e-mail to catholicna@catholicna.com