Good will to all men? Not from the grumpy atheists! (Thank God not all atheists are grumpy but there sure seems to be a lot of them)
Why is it that so many in the atheist community cannot bring themselves to get past their anger whenever they engage in discussions? The language of many of their contributions in public debate is laced with invective and dripping with sarcasm and bile. There are exceptions of course, but they tend to fall more into the category of being the 'exception that proves the rule' when compared to the hostility of many of today's atheist posters. Comment offered by the theists in the public square is often depicted as being 'malicious' or 'venomous' and intended to enslave the 'feeble minded and weak' by those who post. Nothing could be further from the truth. Venom is something that is oriented to death. Christians are oriented in a 180 degree different direction. We speak not to the culture of death that grips our world but rather for the culture of life and light which ends with the gift of eternal life. For example, the Catholic Church in its hum...
Tom: Thanks for the post. I was ordained with two married men in my class (1989); one was a widower and the other a minister who converted. I understand that married men are as effective as celibates - in fact there are rites within the RCC with married priests.
ReplyDeleteThis being said, celibacy is not forced on anyone. It is freely chosen. Priests who do so must be faithful to their vows, just as anyone who is married must do the same.
Maybe some day the teaching on celibacy will change, but until that day, I have no problem with a celibate priesthood.
One last point: I'm glad your parish has the means to pay a salary sufficient to support a family. That is certainly not the case in the french/bilingual parishes where I serve.
Fr. Tim
Father Tim:
ReplyDeleteThe widower was I believe, Father Al Kerckhaert, who subsequently died of cancer.
He was a wonderful man, and for whatever time he was a priest, a faith filled and faithful priest.
In the times that I met him, he was an inspiration.
That part about Catholics having a lot to learn from Judaism is hilarious. I know a lot of proud Jews. Some are observant, some are not. Some are Zionist, some are not. Not one of them believes in God.
ReplyDeleteGo for it!