Caelibatus !!top!! | Sacerdotalis

Next time you see your parish priest, remember: He has not said "no" to love. He has said a much more difficult, and beautiful, "yes."

Beyond Discipline: Understanding Sacerdotalis Caelibatus and the Heart of Priestly Celibacy sacerdotalis caelibatus

First, a crucial clarification: Celibacy is not part of the substance of the priesthood (dogma), but a discipline of the Latin Church. Eastern Rite Catholic Churches ordain married men. However, Sacerdotalis Caelibatus argues that this discipline is not arbitrary. It is rooted in the very mission of Christ and the Apostles. It is a law that serves a higher purpose: total availability for the Kingdom of God. Next time you see your parish priest, remember:

In the Catholic Church, few topics generate as much curiosity, debate, or misunderstanding as the rule of priestly celibacy in the Latin Rite. For many outside (and even inside) the Church, it appears as an ancient, arbitrary rule—a “no” to marriage and family life. In the Catholic Church, few topics generate as

Next time you see your parish priest, remember: He has not said "no" to love. He has said a much more difficult, and beautiful, "yes."

Beyond Discipline: Understanding Sacerdotalis Caelibatus and the Heart of Priestly Celibacy

First, a crucial clarification: Celibacy is not part of the substance of the priesthood (dogma), but a discipline of the Latin Church. Eastern Rite Catholic Churches ordain married men. However, Sacerdotalis Caelibatus argues that this discipline is not arbitrary. It is rooted in the very mission of Christ and the Apostles. It is a law that serves a higher purpose: total availability for the Kingdom of God.

In the Catholic Church, few topics generate as much curiosity, debate, or misunderstanding as the rule of priestly celibacy in the Latin Rite. For many outside (and even inside) the Church, it appears as an ancient, arbitrary rule—a “no” to marriage and family life.