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Article: THE CHURCH AND CELIBACY\ VOICES RAISED TO QUESTION, CHALLENGE CENTURIES-OLD DICTATE FOR CATHOLIC PRIESTS.(Kentucky Life: Issues)
- Article from:
- The Kentucky Post (Covington, KY)
- Article date:
- June 16, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 The Kentucky Post. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of the Dialog Corporation by Gale Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Janice Gallagher Post contributor
The requirement of celibacy for priests -- a centuries-old dictate of the Roman Catholic Church -- is increasingly being questioned if not challenged outright.
Yet for many priests, as well as parishioners, celibacy is valued as an act of total self-giving -- a way to demonstrate one's devotion to prayer, commitment to a holy life and total allegiance to priestly duties.
Bringing the issue to the forefront are two topics taken directly from the headlines -- sexual abuse by priests at various dioceses across the nation and a growing priest shortage. Some Catholic laity and priests say that the ...