William Maema
3 July 2009
opinion
Nairobi — The Catholic Encyclopedia defines celibacy as the practice of perfect continence on the part of priests and bishops aimed at fostering single-minded devotion to God, according to the longstanding discipline of the Latin church. In essence, celibacy forbids marriage by priests and bishops and normally excludes married men from ordination.
Modern scholars trace the beginnings of celibacy to the apostolic church itself. As early as 390 AD, the council of Carthage noted: "It is fitting that those who were at the service of the divine sacraments be perfectly continent."
While it is true that Jesus called people like Peter from married life, tradition confirms that Peter did not live that state of life later. Apostle John was also unmarried. From the fourth century bishops were chosen only from the unmarried clergy. Celibacy only became mandatory for priests in 1139 when Pope Gregory VII promulgated it at the Second Lateran Council.
There is no obligation on anyone to become a priest. Indeed, under Canon Law, no one, even after successfully completing all the required studies and formation, can demand to be made a priest. However, once one has chosen to become a priest, one agrees to abide by the laws of the Church, as is the case with any other society, club or organisation.
On average, it takes anywhere between 10 and 15 years to qualify for ordination during which period the candidate is prepared academically, theologically, psychologically, spiritually and in all other relevant dimensions for the obligations of priesthood, including the observance of celibacy.
The Church's attraction to celibacy is founded on fairly obvious principles. First, a priest is a model of Christ on earth and acts in persona Christi -- in the person of Christ. A true and holy priest seeks to imitate Christ in every way, including Christ's personality and way of life. Contrary to the popular and dominant culture of his time, Christ chose to remain celibate.
Second, celibacy shows total and exclusive dedication of the priest to Christ's service. He is "married" to the Church. While a good husband's first duty is to his wife, a priest's first duty and concrete dedication is to his flock. These roles, being similar both in priority and intensity, are likely to conflict if combined in one person.
Third, celibacy is a sign of the "end times" of which Christ spoke when he said that "in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven" (Luke 20:35).
Fourth, celibacy enables the priest to wholly and solely focus his attention on matters of God without any earthly distractions which might compete with God for attention. Celibacy provides the priest with greater freedom and flexibility to attend to his pastoral duties without the cares of family life.
Lastly, celibacy is a voluntary sacrifice made by a priest to God. By dying to himself and giving up legitimate love of family for the sake of Christ, the priest gives to God what is probably the most precious gift any man is endowed with.
There is no culture or religion in the world which embraces the breaking of vows. The renunciation of any vow, whether sacred or not, leads to penal consequences. However, in her love and recognition of the frailties of human nature, the Church does, in appropriate circumstances and subject to compliance with the laid-down procedures, give dispensation to priests who for any reason prove incapable of keeping their vows.
As much as the Church cannot force one to become a priest, it similarly cannot force one to remain a serving priest. Is it right then, for a fallen priest who has left the Roman Catholic Church to continue purporting to celebrate the sacred mysteries like Mass and the sacraments? This is one of the greatest paradoxes of the Catholic Church.
Once one is ordained a priest, one is a priest for ever "according to the order of Melchizedek" and the indelible mark which he receives upon ordination cannot be erased. However, the fact of excommunication makes the celebration of Mass and the sacraments by such priests illicit.
Mr Nyaema is an advocate of the High Court.
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good article, I'll rather add that lay chritians have roles to play in the processes leading to ordination of priest. Lay christians should help to submit to bishops information regarding the candidates to avoid ordination of fake priest. It is the church communities that should help the candidates to the vocation, that is the calling so that the candidates know that they can not force themselves in vocation that is not theirs and in the end betray the church and disappoint the christians. Thanks Robert Ojok