Celibacy is not the cause of priest shortage

by Letters Editor · June 5, 2014

Marie-Anne te Brake, Johannesburg – I am submitting this letter in response to Married priests is the solution (May 25).According to Catholic teaching, marriage is a sacrament between a man and a woman, when they promise the total gift of one to the other till death; a husband is called to give of himself as Christ lay down his life for his bride. A priest too, is called to lay down his life for his bride, the Church.

“It’s sad that today’s culture deems that anyone not experiencing sex is missing out. ” (Photo: Gregory Dean)

Whenever I hear the call for retraction of the celibacy of priests, I imagine the practicalities of my own father being a priest: six children to love, parent and educate; a wife who would have had to play second fiddle to the needs of his parish. As it is, I recall the tension caused by my father’s frequent business trips when mom had to hold the fort with six children under the age of 10!

Would the parish have supported the education of six children? Where would his loyalty lie if he were called out to a dying parishioner on the occasion of one of his children’s milestone achievements? Or worse, while his own wife/child should be dying?

Then the nemesis of Catholic teaching on marriage: contraception. Regarded as sinful yet disregarded by the majority of Catholics, would married priests be exemplars?

Personally, I think this call for married priests is an emotional one and that it’s nothing more than a call to let priests have sex.

It’s sad that today’s culture deems that anyone not experiencing sex is missing out. If we see marriage as an outlet for lust or sexual tension, we’re bound to think of celibacy as sexual repression. Both the married person and the celibate should have dominion over his/her lust. Only when people are in control of their sexuality, are they capable of making gifts of themselves.

Another thought: What about marriage for the priest who has same-sex attraction?

Shortage of priests is not because of celibacy but rather a deafness to God’s call to the vocation of love.