Paul Iby, Reformist Bishop, Pushes Vatican To End Celibacy Requirement For Priests

VIENNA — An Austrian bishop who has pushed the Vatican for reforms said in an interview published Wednesday that the Catholic church should drop its celibacy requirement for priests.

Eisenstadt Bishop Paul Iby told the Die Presse daily that it should be up to priests to decide whether they want to live a celibate life and that he would welcome it if married men could be ordained.

"It should be at the discretion of every priest whether to live in voluntary celibacy or in a family," Die Presse quoted Iby as saying.

Iby, who offered to retire when he turned 75 in January, also said that eventually the ordination of women should be considered.

Comments

[Mimi Jacqueleen]

06:30 PM on 05/24/2010

Bishop Iby and his counterpart, Cardinal Shoenborn from Austria are liberals looking to protestantize the Catholic Church. There are more children molested by secular teachers than by pedofile priests. Shall we do away with teachers on that basis? The Catholic Church practices zero tolerance which will cause the perpetrator of such a crime to face criminal charges as would a secular teacher. It is no secret that homosexual men hide in the priesthood, but celibacy of a homosexual and a heterosexual are equal. A homosexual priest can be holy, pure, humble, bold, courageous and obedient as a heterosexual priest can be.

God revealed himself to us in His Son, Jesus, a male and He passed down the leadership of the Church to St. Peter. Therefore, the Magisterium of the Catholic Church honors God's decision to pass the leadership of the Church to men and the consecration and application of all of the Sacraments.

Relative to celibacy, the roll of a priest is far more demanding than one realizes. Therefore, in the wisdom of the Catholic Church, priests are celibate so that they can focus on our Triune God and his own duties to the Church, the body of Christ and not be in conflict with personal/family obligations. Celibacy is indicative of obedience, self denial, self control, penance, etc.

When people take the time to really know the Catholic faith,it is clear that it is truly to be revered as beautiful and holy. God is Holy! Knowledge is power!

[crunchie]

02:29 AM on 05/17/2010

One of the nuns who was a part of our parish. excuse the error.

[crunchie]

02:24 AM on 05/17/2010

Some 40 years ago, the pastor of our (catholic church) , had a mad affair with one of the nuns that was part of our parish, he left the priesthood, and she left the convent, they got married and lived happily ever after. So maybe they should drop the celibacy requirement. Might work.
But they still have to get rid of all the PEDOPHILES. Marriage isn't going to change their behavior.

[AlPal3]

02:50 AM on 05/16/2010

This is good, sound advice, but the CATHOLIC HIERARCHY is too STUPID to take it.

[liquidzen11]

11:32 AM on 05/15/2010

Dropping celibacy requirement for priests is not the solution as raping children has NOTHING to do with sexual orientation. A conscious connected civilization has no need for organized religion.

[SkreetGil1]

12:24 AM on 05/15/2010

I think it would pass if they let the priest marry little boys. Then they'd go with it!

[Proud Bay Man]

06:20 AM on 05/14/2010

Change religion to suit the personal needs of the church, like that's ever been done before. HAHA

[Papa Swamp]

06:55 PM on 05/13/2010

Celibacy rule was put into place in the 1200's because the church didn't want the widows of priests to inherit the priest's property....as Monty Python would say...it's a silly rule.

[DeuxExMachina]

09:10 PM on 05/13/2010

I beg to disagree. Jesus Christ told his Apostles to leave everything and follow Him. To put it In one word He was asking for dedication. Joining the priesthood is a calling not a career move. Priests do not do it for the money (most stipends are pittances), status (it's not the same post-Vatican II) nor with the hope you make Pope one day.
Celibacy implies no marriage and not having children yourself. After all your parish (flock) is your family with all the pastoral duties that ensue. If priests could marry then they would be stretched for time and resources even more than they are now. They would have to have their stipends raised to care for their families which means less money for the churches and charitable work. They would have to spend more time with their families which reduces time with their parishioners. Also, presumably if genuine, these married priests when young would be good Catholics and, if biology permitting, would be fathering many children. This would also be at the same time when they should be putting most of their energy into parish work. Or is the above blogger suggesting that the Catholic Church drop the rule on contraception and abortion as well?

[Aerows]

02:36 AM on 05/14/2010

Protestant ministers have been doing just that for centuries, and it hasn't seemed to harm their churches. Frankly, yes, the RCC needs to drop the rule on contraception and abortion - overpopulation is becoming a serious problem, and it's high time to acknowledge that there are situations in which taking a pregnancy to term is a bad thing.

Of course, the RCC only formally recognized in THIS century that the earth revolves around the sun, instead of the other way around, so I don't expect them to join the rest of the universe any time soon.

[ariadne1959]

12:52 PM on 05/14/2010

Then how do you explain the fact that most of the Apostles were married? Their wives and families followed with Him. Are you saying that Jesus advocated divorce as a requirement to 'follow Him' in the celibacy of priesthood? The statement Jesus made 'to leave everything and follow Him' has nothing to do with celibacy.

[captric]

06:14 PM on 05/13/2010

I have traveled to many different countries in this world, and spoken with successful, intelligent, KIND people who barely even ponder the existence of God. It seems strange that the quality of their character could be so great having never heard the wisdom or guidance of God. Not only that, I find it even more curious that the best Christians in the entire world, who happen to live in Africa, and pray harder every single day than you ever have, seem to have nothing to show for it. They die of Malaria and dysentery and HIV. But in America, you KNOW God loves you. You have iPods and Cable television and you can blog on the internet. How GENEROUS God can be!

It's time to step out of the box people. Head in the sand Christians have more in common with militant Islamists than you could possibly imagine. Lets look for shared solutions to the worlds problems. And seek real answers that we can touch and feel and measure. Lets stop using fables that aren't even as old as the Greek Myths to run our lives.. My Grandfather left the church when he was a teenager because what they were teaching him and what he observed in the real world didn't match up. Is that so hard to do?

[Adar]

04:36 PM on 05/13/2010

Sexual abuse, no matter who the perpetrator or who the victim, is a crime of abuse of power. There is a huge power differential between an adult and a child, magnified if the adult is a member of the clergy.

Just as rape is not really about sex, neither are these cases really about sex. Look to the use and abuse of power in the hierarchy for solutions to the sex abuse issue.

[Eldergothfather]

04:31 PM on 05/13/2010

First, your return to celibacy was not part of our negotiations nor our agreement so I must do nothing. And secondly, you must be a priest for the priest's code to apply and you're not. And thirdly, celibacy is more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules. Welcome aboard the Black Pearl, Monsignor Iby .

[bobtr900]

02:47 PM on 05/13/2010

I totally agree with Bishop Iby.

It may take another few hundred years but the Vatican will, hopefully, see the "light". That is the true light, not their institutional light that is almost entirely man-made.

[bryanzth]

10:05 PM on 05/13/2010

A hundred years? Oh by that time everyone will have left and the last priest will turn off the lights and lock the doors. Sad, but true.

BZ.

[New Yorker]

02:31 PM on 05/13/2010

Jesus said the Gates of Hell would not prevail against His church. The Catholic Church will be around till the end of time. Catholics never worry about such things. In God We Trust !

[Papa Swamp]

06:55 PM on 05/13/2010

Of course the worry in that statement is..if the church is collapsing...is the end of time near?

[DeuxExMachina]

08:47 PM on 05/13/2010

I don't have the answer to that as I've never experienced a religious divination. But if you just take the material, physical signs and political signs that are current we are not exactly creating a paradise on earth for most people.

[IntellectuallyHonest]

10:45 AM on 05/13/2010

The Vaticaould solve its recruitment problem overnight by dropping celibacy for Priests. They might even save the Church.

[ArchbishopBenevolent]

09:52 AM on 05/13/2010

I urge Mr. Paul Iby and the RCC leadership to read George Carlin's "Brain Droppings".
He expands on the definitions of celibacy with the great clarity as only George Carlin can. According to Carlin: Celibacy is simply not getting married. The oath of celibacy will not and has not stopped the perverts in the Church from the doing horrible things to children around the work. I am assuming they were required to take an oath of chastity.

May be the real conservatives in the RCC can come up with a tough conservative answer. Additional, oaths related to no sexual thoughts may be, keeping hands several feet from the reproductive organs at all times etc. etc. May be one of these tough ideas will work.