The Catholic Church has recently been criticized by many followers and non-followers following reports of sexual scandals involving some clergymen and nuns in and outside the monastery. Many such sex scandals have been hitting the headlines. The most recent cases rocked the Dutch and the American Catholic Churches which have been embroiled in child sex abuse scandals. In the light of all these outrages, and many others that go unreported, the questions are: is celibacy a calling from God? And isn't it the high time nuns and fathers were allowed to get married?
Sexual abuse of children by priests has been brought to light in a number of countries, but the recent apologies from the church and the Pope himself are “too little too late”. The revelation from the Dutch Catholic Church came as a shocker to many as three priests from the same institution have been subject to accusations raising an alarm in many other churches. Here in Kenya we have had cases of both local and visiting fathers sexually molesting young boys.
Celibacy is considered by the Catholic Church as a special gift of God by which sacred ministers can adhere more easily to Christ with an undivided heart and are able to dedicate themselves more freely to the service of God and humanity. However, celibacy has not always been required of priests. According to historical facts, the wealth and power of Rome had more to do with the practice than spirituality. Most clerics used to get married until the Middle Ages, when concern, mostly over the loss of Church lands to heirs of priests, led to the imposition of the celibacy rule.
Defenders of celibacy rely heavily on Matthew 19:12, where Jesus is quoted as saying that “...they have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept this.” Paul also emphasized the need to remain celibate in order to effectively serve God: “ I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs—how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife—and his interests are divided.
An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband” (1 Corinthians 7:32-34).
But critics of priestly celibacy point out that the Bible should not be read ‘selectively' but ‘wholly'. They note that Paul also said: “ I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:35) and further: “Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion” (1 Corinthians 7:8-9). Besides, the critics argue, if Jesus placed such a high value on celibacy, why were most if not all of his apostles married, including Peter who became the first Pope?
The unfolding tragedy of the paedophilia scandals by Catholic clergy has rekindled the debate over whether priests should be allowed to marry. Celibacy has been put in the spotlight but nothing conclusive has been achieved. We have also witnessed some priests abandoning their call and marrying their sweethearts. I leave it to you to give your views and comments on this critical issue that can easily reshape the future of the Catholic Church.
