Letters

Married clergy

Frank Bellet

Contents - Mar 2008 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Man-made global warming: new religion? - Michael Gilchrist Tribute: B.A. Santamaria: ten years on - Cardinal George Pell News: The Church Around the World Man-made climate change: another great hoax? - Peter Finlayson Recovering the sacred in modern church architecture - Moyra Doorly 40 Years On: Vatican II at its mid-life crisis - Br Barry Coldrey Easter: The Sacred Triduum in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (1962 Missal) Crescat amor: What is the nature and purpose of theology? - Fr John O'Neill PP La Sapienza: Benedict XVI: the papacy and the university - Pope Benedict XVI Vocations: The priesthood: a special relationship with Christ - Fr Pat Stratford Vocations: Signs of hope in US diocese Letters: Christ's Church - Frank Mobbs Letters: Married clergy - Frank Bellet Letters: Canadian Lectionary - Matt Walton Letters: Language - Kevin McManus Letters: Liturgical abuses - Dennis Macdonald Letters: Response - Richard Stokes Letters: Homosexual 'marriage' - Arnold Jago Letters: Altar rails - Corinne O'Loughlin Letters: 'Re-ordered' churches - Brian Tooley Letters: Abortion laws - Robert Prinzen-Wood Letters: From India - Fr. A. Joseph Poetry: Time-Warp - Bruce Dawe Books: GOD AND CAESAR: Religion, Politics, and Society, by Cardinal George Pell - Catherine Sheehan (reviewer) Books: SEARCHING FOR AND MAINTAINING PEACE, by Father Jacques Philippe - Tim Cannon (reviewer) Books: JOURNEY OF A FAITH COMMUNITY, compiled by Tom Johnstone - James E. Scarlett (reviewer) DVD: NO TURNING BACK: Confessions of a Catholic priest, by Fr D. Calloway - Fr Martin Durham (reviewer) Books: Books available from AD2000 Books Reflection: Benedict XVI on Lent: 'authentic conversion to the love of Christ' - Pope Benedict XVI

The hardy perennial suggesting that a married clergy would solve the priest 'shortage' has emerged recently in a diocesan newspaper. The main problem facing the Catholic Church in this country, is not just the shortage of suitable priests, but rather the lack of parishioners.

If more people practised the faith properly, there would be a larger pool of prospective seminarians. I might add, if the teachings of the Church had not been watered down or even drowned by trendies in the pulpits and schools, there'd be less of a crisis attracting prayerful young men to the priesthood.

The suggestion of a problem solving married clergy comes from those, who either haven't thought deeply on the subject or, worse, want to change our Church to something it's not. There could be no argument about the dramatic slide in the number of parishioners, so if that fact is accepted, you have to ask where will the money come from to feed, clothe and educate what one would expect to be a rather large family?

I recognise that some married Anglican clergy and their families have converted to Catholicism and proved to be an asset, but these are small in number and this cannot equate to a full range policy of married clergy.

Imagine the scenario, where a wife objected to a transfer to a high crime area, or a slum, or objected to her husband attending an urgent 2am sick call from a dying parishioner, following news that there had been a prowler in the neighbourhood and didn't want to be left alone. Or, perish the thought, who would foot the bill for a separation or annulment, when a woman justifiably demanded maintenance for herself and a large family. It could happen.

I have been a widower for almost five years and, in reverse, I recognise the dramatic change in lifestyle this produces. I'm not suggesting this is a plus in my life, but merely stating a fact that, like a celibate priest, I can fulfil any reasonable request and any invitation, which I can manage, without having to consider if it will inconvenience anyone else in the household.

Likewise a celibate priest, on a sick call, on a transfer, or accepting an invitation to a day on the golf course with friends (along with his mobile phone) may do the same.

FRANK BELLET
Petrie, Qld

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 21 No 2 (March 2008), p. 13