THE FAMILIES OF EASTERN-RITE CATHOLIC PRIESTS GIVE AN
IMPORTANT WITNESS TO WHAT IS HEALTHY AND WONDERFUL ABOUT FAMILY LIFE, POPE
FRANCIS SAID.
Speaking
to laypeople, clergy and religious of the Slovak Catholic Church – a
Byzantine-rite Church that has maintained its tradition of ordaining both
celibate and married men – the Pope said, “the families of priests live a
unique mission today.”
“When
the very model of the family is called into question, if not attacked outright,
you offer a healthy and exemplary testimony of life,” he said int his talk Oct.
6.
The
Pope encouraged the small Slovak Catholic Church, which also has a diocese in
Canada – the Eparchy of Ss. Cyril and Methodius of Toronto – to safeguard its
Byzantine tradition, “which I, too, came to know and love when I was younger.”
“Rediscover
it and live it to the full just as the Second Vatican Council taught,” he said.
“The
European continent, both east and west, needs to rediscover its roots and
vocation; and from Christian roots, only solid trees can grow which bear the
fruits of full respect for the dignity of the human person in every condition
and every phase of life,” the Pope said. – Carol Glatz for CNS, Oct. 8.
[Reported
in SEIA (Secretariat for Ecumenical
and Interreligious Affairs - of the USCCB) NEWSLETTER
On the Eastern Churches and Ecumenism, n. 277, Oct. 31, 2018, page 19.]
This Slovak Catholic Church ordains celibate and married men and its tradition and families are praised by Pope Francis. Why not our Latin Rite Church? Why the double standard? The present system lacks both logic and justice. We need CORPUS, now more than ever, to address this issue and church reform in general more than ever.
ReplyDeleteLinda and Phil Marcin, CORPUS
I agree, Linda and Phil, as a CORPUS member. And our own history tells of the Roman Church having a married clergy until around 1000. And these, and our Protestant brothers and sisters in Christ are the ones who can teach us.
ReplyDelete