Well, it's been a hell of a ride, laying rubber all over the road for the past decade. But it's time to call it a day and park the Rogue in the garage. Effective today, I am shutting down my blog to focus my attention on other endeavours. My thanks to the more than 2.7 million people who regularly joined me on these sojourns through news stories over the years that dealt with the places with issues of religion and faith intersecting with public affairs. May God bless you with a continuing desire to learn about and help disseminate the issues of faith throughout the public square. Happy trails in your continuing travels! Fr. Tim Moyle, p.p. Diocese of Pembroke
Reflections from the pastoral ministry of an Evangelical Catholic Priest.
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!