Friday, February 7, 2020

Pope Francis Abolishes Celibacy

Francis and the Amazon Synodal - sophisticated regional circles with pre-fabricated results and global ramifications.

By Roberto de Mattei *

The message we anticipated was in the air. The confirmation is sent to us confidentially by some bishops who have received part (not all) of the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation from Pope Francis on the Amazon Synod. This part essentially deals with paragraph 111 of the Synod's final document.

“Many church communities in the Amazon region have enormous difficulties in accessing the Eucharist. It takes months or years for a priest to return to a church to celebrate the Eucharist, to offer the sacrament of reconciliation, or to celebrate the anointing of the sick for the ill in the church.

We value celibacy as a gift from God insofar as this gift enables the missionary disciple ordained to the priesthood to devote themselves fully to the service of the Holy People of God. It stimulates pastoral love, and we pray that there are many vocations that live the celibate priesthood. We know that this discipline 'is not required by the nature of the priesthood itself' (PO, 16), although there is a ratio of usefulness to it for many reasons. In his encyclical on priestly celibacy, St. Paul VI. upheld this law and exposed the theological, spiritual, and pastoral motivations that motivate it. In 1992, the post-synodal exhortation of St. John Paul II for priestly training confirmed this tradition in the Latin Church (PDV, 29). In view of the fact that legitimate diversity does not affect the community and unity of the Church, but expresses it and is at its service (cf. LG, 13; OE, 6), as evidenced by the existing diversity of rites and disciplines, we propose that within the framework of Lumen Gentium 26, the competent authority shall lay down criteria and provisions for the ordination of suitable and recognized men of the congregation to priests who practice fruitful permanent diaconate and receive adequate priestly training to support the life of the Christian community to be supported by preaching the word and celebrating the sacraments in the most remote areas of the Amazon. "

So the breach has been made. There is then no reason to ban what other regions of the world will allow in some areas of the Amazon. The German bishops, and not just them, are ready to open priesthood to married men who are deemed appropriate by the competent authority. What is thereby liquidated is not only a changeable "Church discipline", but a law of the Church, which is based on a commandment of divine and apostolic origin.

Fifty years ago at the symposium of European bishops in Chur in July 1969, Cardinal Leo-Joseph Suenens read an appeal by Hans Küng to abolish the celibacy of priests in his closing speech. This demand coincided with the role assigned by the progressive theology of sexuality: an instinct that man should not suppress by asceticism, but "liberate" by finding a form of "realization" of the human person in sex. Since then, this demand has expanded and has gone hand in hand with the Church's process of secularization and self-destruction.

In reality, the violations of celibacy and simony were always the great plagues that afflicted the mystical body of Christ in times of crisis. And the call for abstinence and poverty, as the Gospel calls it, were the banner of the great saints of church renewal. In the coming days of February, the anti-reformer will not, as is so often the case, be a bishop or a group of bishops, but the successor of St. Peter.

Ecclesiastical celibacy is the glory of the Church, and what makes it so is the will of Christ, which the apostles have handed down to our times.

Is it conceivable that the Catholics can remain silent in the face of this scandal?

* Roberto de Mattei, historian, father of five, professor of modern history and history of Christianity at the European University of Rome, chair of the Lepanto Foundation, author of numerous books, most recently in German translation: Defense of Tradition: The Insurmountable Truth of Christ, with a foreword by Martin Mosebach, Altötting 2017 and The Second Vatican Council. A previously unwritten story, 2nd adult Edition, Bobingen 2011. [His books are available in English on Amazon.com]

Books by Prof. Roberto de Mattei in German translation Martin Mosebach's books can be obtained from our partner bookstore.
Translation: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Corrispondenza Romana
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

43 comments:

Constantine said...

I read on "Rorate Caeli" something different:"'Exclusive: Francis “is not opening up” to viri probati and the priesthood for married men'
Bruno Volpe
La Fede Quotidiana
February 2, 2020"
Which one is correct?

Tancred said...

I don’t know. They usually post Matteo articles, but not this time. Thanks for asking! I almost forget to mention Rorate and Volpe’s article.

Tancred said...

Mattei

BrotherBeowulf said...

The real scandal is the False Pope.

"Is it conceivable that the Catholics can remain silent in the face of this scandal?"

Well, Professor de Mattei?

JBQ said...

Whatever Pope Francis does is the iceberg that sits above the ocean". What is below the surface that is 9/10 of the entire incident? The Orthodox have a successful issue with married priests. They allow marriage up to and including the deaconate. Their bishops cannot be married.----So, what is the resistance to this chain-of-events?

DJR said...

The Oxford Dictionary defines the term "abolish" as "formally put an end to."

Allowing the Latin Rite to ordain some married men does not "abolish celibacy." There have always been celibate priests (Saint Paul was), and there always will be, just as there have always been married priests and I suppose always will be.

In order to "abolish" celibacy, the Church would have to cease ordaining monks, friars, and any men in religious orders, and it would have to require that all secular priests get married before they get ordained.

A person does not have to be in favor of ordaining married men or be a partisan of Pope Francis to understand that "abolishing" celibacy is not what is being contemplated by the pope.

Anonymous said...

This is a massive attack on tradition and the historic faith, which has been the whole point of the novus ordo V2 church. All V2 changes including this one are about ridiculing the historic understanding of God, morality and salvation. These changes are not even about making Catholicism popular since every passing decade the institutional church becomes smaller and less important in the minds of people in and outside the church. These changes are about mocking the beliefs of the first 1960 years of the faith and filling the God sized hole that results with the ash of a godless and adulterous generation.

Constantine said...

The worst problems with a "married clergy" is 1) the danger of dissident wives ans sons and daughters that undermines the priest and 2) sons, and wives can be held hostage by unscruplulous organizations, governments ideologies, and media. The Eastern Churches do not have activist conservative priests willing and uninhibited to die for Christ the King. The Eastern Churches are "nationalized" and controlled by governments, and in the case of the greeks, Freemasons. Bergoglio wants married clergy pliable enough to be divided in allegiance and less ideolgically opposed to organizations ideologies and parties Bergoglio sympathizes with. Thats the problem! Close family becomes hostage and political levers of control.

DJR said...

Constantine said..."The Eastern Churches do not have activist conservative priests willing and uninhibited to die for Christ the King."

Fox News October 12, 2017: CAIRO – Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church says a priest has been killed in a knife attack in a poor Cairo district, the latest deadly assault on members of the country's Christian minority.

Wikipedia: Daniel Alexeyevich Sysoev (Russian: Даниил Алексеевич Сысоев; 1974– 2009) was a married Russian Orthodox priest, the rector of St. Thomas' church in southern Moscow and a prominent missionary.

He was killed in a Russian Orthodox Church by a masked gunman on November 19, 2009. Sysoev was known for his missionary activity, including among Russia's Muslim community, neo-Pagans, and Protestants. In December 2009, Sysoev's murder was claimed by a militant Islamic group based in the North Caucasus.

According to a statement made by Russian Islamists and released on kavkazcenter.com,"One of our brothers who has never been to the Caucasian took up the oath of (former independent Chacha president Goku Umarov) and expressed his desire to execute the damned Syeesoyeeev."


St. Maxima of Singidunum, and her priest-husband, St. Montanus

St. Maxima and her priest-husband, St. Montanus, lived in Singidunum (present-day Belgrade in Serbia) in the fourth century during the time of Emperor Diocletian’s persecution of Christians.

The relics of Saint Maxima, a priest's wife, can be seen at the Poor Clares Byzantine Rite convent in North Royalton, Ohio. They have been known to bleed from time to time.

John Seipso said...
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Constantine said...

Priests who live in disobedience are not worthy to celebrate and offer the sacrifice. Fir the sacrifice is by his actions contaminated-"not Kosher" by Orthodox/Catholic standards. Those priests living in serious sin of disobedience and fornication, because not recognized by the Church are defiling the Body and Blood. If a married priest were allowed, they could not be legitimate. They would not be "viri probati" anyway. But as far as married priests they are not able to fight the homo/trans/feminist/lesbian/contraception ideology in the West, because it is an ideology, unlike in the past, when immorality was left in the closet and not spoken of. A pro-life and pro-family priest who had a wife or son or daughter come out of the closet and/or work openly or secretly for Planned Parenthood or for antifamily organizations has horrifying consequences. A priest can be silenced or coersed by threats, whether real or immagined.

John Seipso said...

Over the past several decades, Sipe and others have published professionally researched studies on clerical celibacy, heterosexual and homosexual, and have concluded that well over sixty per cent of priests in the US are in active sexual partnerships at any one time. That's the reality that shows up required 'celibacy' as neither accepted/received or lived. It's not intrinsic to the nature of sacramental priesthood. It's a discipline foisted on secular clergy in the sixth century mainly to stop the establishment of hereditary clerical dynasties and to mark clerics out from the rest of humanity. It was a social construct that generated its own apologetic theology.

Constantine said...

Disobedience and the resultant fornication is not intrinsic to the priesthood and it invalidates the graces of the Sacraments. These shameless priests deprive ordinary Graces meant for the congregation.

Reagan's Bush said...

They also allow divorce. Up to 3x for lay couples.

Constantine said...

Priests who disobediently did not "live up to tbis reality" of celibacy are polluters of Christs Mystical Body and Sacrament.

Reagan's Bush said...

But it never was an issue in the pre-conciLIAR era. Maybe, just maybe, celibacy is not the issue.

paab said...

To say that celibacy is ‘imposed’ comes from a perspective of one who has not been called to the priestly vocation. It would look imposed from the perspective of one called to married life. When a man is called to the priestly vocation and says ‘yes’, he has freely offered his celibacy in a profound relationship of deep love. Please read the book by Cardinal Sarah/Pope Benedict XVI.

paab said...

To say that celibacy is ‘imposed’ comes from a perspective of one who has not been called to the priestly vocation. It would look imposed from the perspective of one called to married life. When a man is called to the priestly vocation and says ‘yes’, he has freely offered his celibacy in a profound relationship of deep love. Please read the book by Cardinal Sarah/Pope Benedict XVI.

Unknown said...

No Francis, you do not, cannot abolish Celibacy in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church that follows Christ and His teaching. Bye, bye, enjoy your New Francis Church. Please do not forget to leave the Keys on St. Peter's Chair on your way out.
Tess.

Tancred said...

Sipe has an agenda to promote which has nothing to do with the Catholic Faith.

PW said...
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Anonymous said...

I have great hope in this pope

Peter Watson said...
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Constantine said...

Augustine and the Church Fathers argued that the sacraments are valid by a priest in sin, even though the priest did not believe and preach that Christ is fully Coequal to God the Father. From a heretical disobedient sinner priest the Sacraments are nominally valid. But that does not mean that the Sacrament, whose Graces come through the priest to the people carries all the Graces it should contain. The more holy the priest, the more holy Graces are given to a Congregation. Receiving Communion from a higher ranking or holier clergymen, such as a pope, would also more likely confer a greater degree of grace on communicants. Furthermore, a priest who does not intend to effectuate a sacrament as the Church has traditionally understood it, the intent required by the Church, then the Sacrament is not validly effectuated at all.

Peter Wilkinson said...
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Anonymous said...

You're contradicting yourself again Constantine. The Church teaches that it is the work of the Holy Spirit through the Sacraments themselves that grace is communicated not the person or disposition of the priest. Grace is grace regardless of whether a Sacrament is celebrated by Pope Alexander VI or Padre Pio.

Constantine said...

Graces are graces, but graces are reduced depending on who is offering the Mass. Which is why many prefer to go not to a Bugnini/ Pauline Mass, but rather to a Tridentine. The hope is that the older Mass, being more reverant, can provide more Graces.

Anonymous said...

"...graces are reduced depending on who is offering the Mass." The Church teaches that grace comes from God through the Sacraments and is not in anyway dependent on worthiness or otherwise of the celebrant.

What are the sources for your argument that is contrary to Church teaching from the patristic age?

Anonymous said...

The magnificent Roman Catholic Church-

30-34 A.D.-2020 A.D.

R.I.P.

Damian M.Malliapalli

Constantine said...

Not all sources of Revelations are written. But its why one would prefer to go to a Tridentine Mass. Its why most believers would prefer to be confessed or baptized by Padre Pio or a Saintly priest. Its why someone would prefer to gey Sacraments from a priest, rather than a lay person. Its why in Leviticus God required rules for a kosher oblation. Its why Cain's offer was more pleasing to God, and God was more gracious with Cain and not Able. Its why we run to a good and holy priest than the average gutter trash we find among clergy.And its always been like that throughout ages.

Constantine said...

Correction:Meant Able's offer was better then Cain. But my point is still clear and theologically justifiable. The Sspx and Fsspx prefer the Tridentine Mass and Sacraments.

Anonymous said...

Making smoke

Constantine said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Constantine said...

No its not smoke, it is a deeply held belief even from Old Testament times. Ivory tower elites are snotty and condescending of the common man. These pseudointellectuals are the same sophists that murdered Socrates. Belief that learning comes more from universities than intuition and common sense is the false thinking of the Enlightenment.

Anonymous said...

And making dust trails

Tancred said...


If the priest is a saint, the people will be fervent;

if the priest is fervent, the people will be pious;

if the priest is pious, the people will at least be decent;

if the priest is only decent, the people will be godless.

The spiritual generation is always one-degree less intense in its life than the one who begets it in Christ.

( Dom Jean-Baptiste Chautard, O.C.S.O. The Soul of the Apostolate, p. 39)

Anonymous said...

“Does it make ANY sense to you on ANY level that God Almighty would RATIFY an illegitimate, illegal, unlawful, canonically invalid papal election… as long as “everybody goes along with it.”

Of course not.

“Queen and Mother, stretch thy arms to us, raise us up to thy Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart. Allow us to rest our heads on thy heart and thus become saints and apostles! Queen of the Holy Rosary grant us the strength to fight thy enemies!”

In all cases, among all people, regardless of one’s beliefs, desires, inclinations, orientation,  acts of depravity are always a perversion of authentic Love, for authentic Life-affirming and Life-sustaining Love, is always rightly ordered to the inherent personal and relational Dignity of the persons existing in a relationship of Love and thus devoid of every form of lust. Acts of depravity, in all cases, amongst all people, are a perversion of Love, and thus, in all cases, amongst all people, acts of depravity, are devoid of Love.

Acts of depravity serve an “unquenchable desire for lust”, in all cases, among all people, regardless of one’s beliefs, desires, inclinations, orientation, acts of depravity are sinful.


Acceptance of a schismatic, who, prior to his election as pope, claimed that sin done in private was not sin, Jorge Bergoglio, who denied Christ’s teaching regarding sexual sin and thus The Sanctity of the marital act within The Sacrament Of Holy Matrimony, and thus, having opposed every previously validly elected Pope, cannot possibly be The Vicar Of Christ.

This is what Jorge Bergoglio said, in regards to same-sex sexual relationships, and thus same-sex sexual acts, prior to his election as pope, on page 117 of his book, On Heaven And Earth, demonstrating that he does not hold, keep, or teach The Catholic Faith, and he continues to act accordingly:
“If there is a union of a private nature, there is neither a third party, nor is society affected. Now, if the union is given the category of marriage, there could be children affected. Every person needs a male father and a female mother that can help shape their identity.”- Jorge Bergoglio, denying The Sanctity of the marital act within The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, and the fact that God, The Most Holy And Undivided Blessed Trinity, Through The Unity Of The Holy Ghost, Is The Author Of Love, Of Life, And Of Marriage, while denying sin done in private is sin.

“1849 Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as "an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law."121
1850 Sin is an offense against God: "Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight."122 Sin sets itself against God's love for us and turns our hearts away from it. Like the first sin, it is disobedience, a revolt against God through the will to become "like gods,"123 knowing and determining good and evil. Sin is thus "love of oneself even to contempt of God."124 In this proud self- exaltation, sin is diametrically opposed to the obedience of Jesus, which achieves our salvation.125“

"Neither is someone a schismatic for denying his subjection to the Pontiff on the grounds that he has solidly founded ['probabiliter'] doubts concerning the legitimacy of his election or his power." de Lugo: Disp., De Virt. Fid. Div., disp xxv, sect iii, nn. 35-8

"Nor is there any schism if......one suspects the person of the pope or the validity of his election, or if one resists him as the civil head of a state." Szal, Rev Ignatius: Communication of Catholics with Schismatics, CUA, 1948, p.2”

Jorge Bergoglio’s heresy is manifestly evident, external, and is public and notorious.

“F8] But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema.”

Anonymous said...

None actually confront the historical facts, which are as follows:
1. Pope Benedict, as the man who is the pope, renounced the ministerium in his declaration of Feb. 11, 2013.
2. Canon 332 §2 says a Roman Pontiff renounces when he renounces the munus.
3. Canon 17 says that Canon 332 § must be read in accord with the Code of Canon Law’s usage of terms, canonical tradition, and the mind of its legislator, Pope John Paul II.
4. Benedict behavior after Feb. 28, 2013, shows that he retains the papal dignity in all respects.
5. The idea that Benedict’s renunciation of ministerium means a renunciation of the papacy comes from a tweet by Giovanna Chirri, an ANSA reporter, minutes following the Consistory of Feb. 11, 2013.
6. No meeting of canonists was called to examine the act of the Renunciation to determine if it was valid or not.
7. The Vatican has never officially claimed that the renunciation was valid.
8. The Cardinals have never claimed that they did anything to verify that the See was Vacant before meeting in the Conclave of 2013 to elect Jorge Mario Bergoglio.
9. Jorge Mario Bergoglio is a public manifest and pertinacious heretic, idolater and fomenter of schisms, who by divine right cannot be a member of the Catholic Church, let alone hold any office in Her.
10. The Church has NEVER taught that the Cardinals or Bishops or even all the clergy are infallible in matters of canonical interpretations or knowledge of historical facts.
Instead, these “Bergoglio is certainly the pope” Catholics take another route.  They hold that the solidarity of opinion of the vast majority, who say Bergoglio is the pope, is more authoritative than:
1. God who is infallible by nature.
2. Christ Jesus who created the office of Saint Peter and promised it infallibility.
3. Christ Jesus’ Prayer for the person of the Pope that his faith may NEVER fail.
4. The First Vatican Council in its decree, Pastor Aeternus.
5. The Code of Canon Law of 1983 promulgated by the Vicar of Jesus Christ, Pope John Paul II.
6. The words of Pope Benedict himself during and after the Renunciation of Feb. 11, 2013.” - Rene Henry Gracida is a Roman Catholic bishop. He is Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, having served as the Fifth Ordinary, or Diocesan Bishop, of that Diocese from May 19, 1983 until his retirement on April 1, 1997. The title of his Blog, Abyssus Abyssum Invocat his episcopal motto and is taken from the 41/42/43 rd Psalm.”

Anonymous said...
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PW said...
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PW said...
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PW said...

When the post's thesis crashes and burns, what a brilliant distraction to throw in a bar or two of cloying French sacerdotal narcissism accompanied by a litany of incoherent stream of consciousness drivel. It is this kind of spirituality that was a trigger for the French Revolution and many after that.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like the commenter "Constantine" is a Donatist.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donatism

Thankfully, the issue of ordination was settled in the Orthodox church.