Sir, - In an Editorial on priestly celibacy (September 4th) you state: "Undoubtedly, celibacy can be a powerful and practical expression of total commitment to ministry and a positive source of spiritual energy. But should it be compulsory?" You ask for an open debate on this issue.
Distortion never helps debate. The Pope, in his historic document on the priesthood (Pastores dabo vobis), stresses that to be a candidate for priesthood one must see the call for celibacy as Christ's call to oneself. Therefore, if the candidate sees it as in any way compulsory or considers it as merely a Church law or "part of a package deal", he cannot be ordained. Celibacy for the Church is deeply rooted in the very nature of priesthood and in the call of Christ to "leave everything" in order to be configured to Himself in his mission. The Church can never distance herself form Christ. The whole idea of the Church's mission is closely linked to celibacy.
Many priests and bishops in the early Church had been married. Your Editorial takes this to mean that they were still living married lives while being priests or bishops. Researches, however, have proved beyond any reasonable doubt that they gave up all conjugal life once they became priests. This often involved heroic sacrifice. Some of the strongest statements for celibacy come from the early Church. The Council of Carthage said in support of clerical celibacy in 390: "What the apostles taught and antiquity has observed, we also must defend." How could any Pope or bishop fail to defend it today? - Yours, etc.,
Michael Manning,
Millstreet, Co Cork.