Even though I was about 14 yrs old at the time I remember some of the discussion in the Church coming immediately after the close of the Second Vatican Council in 1965. The 1960's was a turbulent time in this country with the Vietnam war, the assassination of President John Kennedy and a new era of expressive personal freedom. So its no wonder that some of this turmoil and unsettledness affected the life of the Church. In fact, historically, the Church has never really existed in a time of placid peace and harmony.
So the question of priestly celibacy as an optional choice in the priesthood loomed clearly on the horizon as an important issue to consider. In fact, we still today hear the same in the sense that some thinking that if the Church allowed priests the option to be married or not before ordination, that would solve the priestly shortage crisis.
Personally, after serving in the priesthood for enough years to be objective about this, I really never bought that argument. Oh sure, I pondered its possibility. A married priesthood is not by any means unprecedented. Besides the Latin, Roman Catholic, rite priests and ministers elsewhere always have that option. The Roman Church alone makes it mandatory for its priests.
The above link is to an article by a Ukranian Archbishop who states that, "marriage doesn't solve the priest shortage . . ." He would know since in that tradition, united with Rome, priests may be married before priestly ordination if they so choose. It isn't about marriage as much as it is about the priesthood itself. Read the article and reflect.
I truly believe that marriage and holy orders are compatible sacraments in the sense that they run parallel to each other. Having served in parishes for 40 years I have run side by side with numerous married couples and families. We each have something to learn from each other and we find ourselves complimentary but not blended. Each has its distinctive way of being, or serving the Lord in each vocation but the mixing of the two would dilute the purpose of each.
When faced with a choice, who does the priest choose - the people he serves or the needs of his family. If he chooses one over the other, the other suffers the result. As priests we are called to love in an inclusive way. As married couples you love in an exclusive way. One is not better than the other but rather complimentary and both are necessary ways to witness to the Gospel. Both learn the true meaning of self-sacrifice and generosity towards others after Jesus' own example. We walk side by side in our distinct witness to the Gospel.
There would be opinions pro and con for either of course but in the end I feel that the long held position of the Catholic Church is the best. In the end, however, this will come to some ultimate resolution. It doesn't appear that Pope Francis has any intention of changing this universal discipline of requiring priestly celibacy so who knows ultimately where it will go. In the meantime we each carry on and seek to become a holy people each according to the way God has called us.
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