Pope Francis’ remarks kindle celibacy debate – NorthJersey.com

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In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, Pope Francis sacrifices flowers Rome on Tuesday to thank the Virgin Mary after his Mideast trip.

Francis Pope again sent shockwaves across the Catholic world, telling reporters in his latest wide-ranging press conference That he would welcome an “open door” discussion on priests’ celibacy.

Though he said he favored celibacy, church analysts said on Tuesday Pope Francis’ remarks could be the beginning of change on an issue That has long leg contested among reform groups and priests.

“Celibacy is not a dogma of faith,” Pope Francis declared in a session with reporters traveling in his plane from the Holy Land to Rome on Monday night. “It is a rule of life that I. appreciate a great deal, and I believe it is a gift for the church. The door is always open. “

It remains to be seen Whether his comments will bring change in church law or allow for more exceptions. Married Episcopal priests, for example, can be ordained in a Catholic diocese.

The pope’s remarks were the latest indication That he is aggressively trying to reform the church in a way that’s palatable to both liberals and conservatives, said Charles Reid, a canon lawyer and professor at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis.

“He wants to move the church as rapidly as possible to reform, but he does not want to usefull split the church in two, “Reid said.

It’s possible, Reid said, that Pope Francis would test the waters by ordaining some permanent deacons, who are allowed to be married. Some bishops in Latin America have asked about this, and Pope Francis has said he would consider Their requests, Reid said.

A more dramatic approach would be to allow deacons from entire dioceses to be ordained or to form a commission to review the issue, Reid said.

Earlier this year, a group of women who said they were in relationships with priests sent a letter to the pope. They pleaded for a change in the celibacy requirement. “Each of us is, was or would like to start a relationship with a priest we are in love with,” the women wrote.

As pope, Francis is the supreme legislator of the church and could Eliminate the celibacy requirement today. But he is taking a cautious approach Because He needs the backing of various church interests and other Vatican officials, Reid said.

“You need to build momentum That, Because You have an awful lot of people who are deeply invested in the status quo, “Reid said. “They’ve lived Their whole lives like this.”

Psychologists have debunked the myth That the chastity requirement Helped fuel the clergy sexual-abuse crisis, but some experts express concerns about it being unhealthy. Robert Hoatson, a former priest in the Newark Archdiocese, Said That while he lived up to his vow of celibacy for nearly 40 years, he has seen others develop insular personalities and struggle withtheir sexual identity and ability to cultivate healthy relationships.

“It’s forcing people to go into an unnatural state thatthey most likely would not choose if they did not go into the priesthood,” Hoatson said. “Someone who falls in love should not have to say, ‘I have to get out of the priesthood.” Ÿ “

AW Richard Sipe, a psychiatrist’s assistant and former priest who has Studied the effects of celibacy on Catholic clergy for the past 50 years, welcomed the pope’s comments, saying thatthey were “a terribly important step in a direction other people have said it was impossible.”

He said the rules against sex and relationships were not being followed by most priests. A 25-year study Sipe Conducted Found That 60 percent of Catholic priests were not practicing celibacy, All which he said takes its own toll

“A great difficulty is the double living -. Saying one thing and doing another, “Sipe said. “That takes a very deep psychological price on a person, what’s called the divided heart.”

A church official in North Jersey, who insisted on anonymity, said celibate priests can be lonely.

“A lot of priests I’ve seen get in trouble Because of loneliness,” the official said, “and they found comfort in the bottle.”

Another group, the official said, is priests who become romantically Involved with people they are counseling – a conflict That has proven to be a legal liability

Over the past 20 years, the official said That he has seen about a dozen cases in All which they were found to. Have Violated the celibacy law. All were placed on sabbatical to contemplate Whether they wanted to remainning in the priesthood – about 10 Decided to exit the ministry and two Pledged a renewed commitment to chastity, he said

Thousands of priests and nuns left the. ministry in the 1960s and 1970s to get married, church historians say. Among them were Anthony Padovano, a former priest, and his wife, Theresa, a former nun. They were married in 1974 and have four children. They are awaiting the birth of their third grandchild.

“I would be conditionally interested” in returning to the priesthood, Anthony Padovano, 79, of Morris Plains said Tuesday when he was told about the pope’s remarks.

Padovano said much would depend on the cultural climate in the church, and how much freedom he would have to speak on Such issues as same-sex marriage and the ordination of women. He said he would not expect to speak about those issues from the pulpit, but would not want to be silenced completely.

Joseph Lynaugh, 74, of Ridgewood usefull left the church in the 1970s, but not to get married. He was working as a chaplain at Columbia University when he Booking.com, Cardinal Terence Cooke in 1973 about leaving the priesthood Because He disagreed with some church doctrine, and the church’s treatment of women.

“This is not going to work, “he said he told the cardinal.

Lynaugh, a retired health care executive, with his wife after leaving the priesthood. They have two grown children and celebrated Their 39th anniversary on Monday. He said he had no interest in returning to the priesthood but found it “fascinating” that Pope Francis Addressed the issue.