Sir, - Kevin Hegarty (September 21st), speaking about recent events, says: "All the signs converge to indicate that compulsory celibacy is not working". He says that most diocesan priests "accepted celibacy as part of the price of ordination."
The Catholic Church requires celibacy of candidates for the priesthood in the Latin Church, and in some Oriental rites. However, it is a distortion to describe this as in any way "compulsory". No such candidate can ever be ordained if he feels in any way compelled as regards celibacy.
Even if he accepts celibacy negatively as "the price of ordination", he cannot be ordained. The Church selects her candidates for the priesthood from those who have the "charism" of celibacy and who, therefore, accept it positively as a divine vocation.
Pope John Paul II affirms this tradition in his Apostolic Exhortation (Pastores dabo vobis no. 29) and adds: "inasmuch as it is a law, it expresses the Church's will, even before the will of the subject expressed by his readiness. But the will of the Church finds its ultimate motivation in the link between celibacy and sacred Ordination, which configures the priest to Jesus Christ the Head and Spouse of the Church."
The Pope says that clerical celibacy is not a purely human law made by the Church but reflects that inner connection between priesthood and celibacy. Therefore, in these circumstances, a candidate for the priesthood would in effect be cheating the Church if he did not accept its theology of priesthood, or commit himself positively to perfect continence.
In its Decree on the Life of Priests. Vatican II said that the more perfect continence was considered by many people to be impossible, the more persevering was the Church in seeking "the grace of fidelity, which is never denied to those who ask." - Yours, etc,
Millstreet,
Co Cork.