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Article: Letter: Must Roman Catholic priests always be celibate?
- Article from:
- The Independent (London, England)
- Article date:
- July 8, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1995 The Independent - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Sir: Even very committed Catholics such as myself (a former
parish and deanery pastoral council chairman) have great difficulty
with Bishop Hugh Lindsay's question "Why retain celibacy?" and the
answers he gives (Another View, 5 July). The more relevant question
is "Why require celibacy?"
Few of us doubt the value of a vocation to celibacy and have met
priests who exemplify its virtues, but it is clear that a vocation
for the priesthood does not necessarily include a vocation for the
celibate life.
For diocesan clergy, unlike those in religious orders, there is
no vow of celibacy. lt just seems to be taken for granted that it
goes with the job. We now see that it is not a necessary ...