Some quotes
on celibacy from “The Directory on the Ministry and Life of Priests” (59-60)
"The example
is Christ, who in going against what could be considered the dominant culture
of His time, freely chose to live celibacy.
In following him the disciples left “everything” to fulfill the mission
entrusted to them."
"For this
reason the Church, from apostolic times, has wished to conserve the gift of
perpetual continence [no sex] of the clergy and choose the candidates for Holy
Orders from among the celibate faithful."
"In today’s
cultural climate, often conditioned by a vision of man lacking in values and
incapable of giving a complete, positive and liberating sense to human
sexuality, the question of the value and meaning of priestly celibacy is often
presented, or at least the question of its strict rapport with ministerial priesthood."
"Difficulties
and objections have always accompanied, throughout history, the decision by the
Latin Church to confer ministerial priesthood only on those men who have
received from God the gift of chastity in celibacy."
"The
difficulties which some present even today are often founded on pretentious
arguments."
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