Vatican City, Feb 14, 2007 / 20:36 pm
In an article published this Wednesday by the daily edition of L' Osservatore Romano, Cardinal Claudio Hummes, Prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, defended the importance of priestly celibacy for the Church, qualifying it as "a precious gift from Christ."
To recall the 40th anniversary of the Encyclical "Sacerdotalis caelibatus," written by Pope Paul VI, Cardinal Hummes emphasizes that celibacy "has to be reflected upon and fortified, especially in the, deeply secularized modern world."
"Studies indicate that the origins of celibacy went back to the apostolic times," said the Prefect. He added that Pope Paul VI’s encyclical emphasized that "priestly celibacy, which the Church has kept for centuries like a brilliant precious stone, preserves all its value even in our times, characterized by a deep transformation in the mentality and framework."
Cardinal Hummes also recalled in his article that during the meeting of the Heads of Dicasteries of the Roman Curia held on November 16, 2006, "the value of the option for priestly celibacy was reaffirmed, according to the Catholic tradition, and so too was defended the demand for a solid Christian and human formation for seminarians as well as for those already ordained priests."
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
At Catholic News Agency, our team is committed to reporting the truth with courage, integrity, and fidelity to our faith. We provide news about the Church and the world, as seen through the teachings of the Catholic Church. When you subscribe to the CNA UPDATE, we'll send you a daily email with links to the news you need and, occasionally, breaking news.
As part of this free service you may receive occasional offers from us at EWTN News and EWTN. We won't rent or sell your information, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Click hereOur mission is the truth. Join us!
Your monthly donation will help our team continue reporting the truth, with fairness, integrity, and fidelity to Jesus Christ and his Church.
Donate to CNA