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A priestly clash
SIR – The idea that the Pope and bishops should “stop hesitating” and allow Catholic priests to marry (Letter, July 10) is astounding. Men committing to the priesthood are not mere functionaries (like electricians, teachers or plumbers), but icons of Christ himself. Married non-Catholic clergy are well represented in literature and comedy regarding the near impossibility of combining the necessary “otherworldliness” of their vocation with the obligations of Christian marriage. All that bitterness, exclusion and sense of neglect has been depicted by many a spouse and child in Trollope and Dickens, through to Alan Bennett and beyond. The fact that the sacrament of marriage exhorts a man to “forsake all others” cannot sit alongside the vows taken during ordination to the priesthood – also, of course, a sacrament. It is a daily difficulty for the married layman to turn his mind and heart to God, and Catholic priests should continue to be spared that potential clash between the domestic and the divine by remaining unmarried. They are all our Fathers and I believe we shall not want. Our Heavenly Father will answer our daily prayer that He “send more labourers to the harvest”. Our ordinariate married priests deserve our understanding and prayers for help in balancing their home life with their spiritual calling. Yours faithfully, Hillary Blake (Mrs) By email SIR – I read with interest your coverage (Home news, July 17) of a very significant event: several of our bishops have declared their support for the ordination of married men and urge the bishops’ conference to respond to Pope Francis’s clear invitation, that proposals be made to Rome to this effect. The arguments for change have already been convincingly made; now we should think seriously about where married candidates for ordination might be found. Research suggests that there are considerable numbers of married laymen whose life and involvement in the Church show them to be viri probati (men of proven worth), who could be invited to become priests. It has also found that many of our married permanent deacons at some time considered the priesthood and might be prepared to take this next step. Finally, we know that among the many priests whom the celibacy law obliged to quit priestly service when they married, not a few have proved their continuing loyalty in lay involvement in their parishes. Some of these would dearly love to serve again as priests. It is sometimes suggested that proponents of married priests disapprove of celibacy. Absolutely not: as Joseph Seferta (Letter, July 10) says, there will always be those who know themselves to have received from God the spiritual gift to lead a mature celibate life and their prophetic witness remains precious. But they are few – as Jesus himself said (Mt 19:11-12) – and it is wrong to make such a charism a condition for ordination. The huge response to Bishop Hollis’s call shows that the time is right for married priests, and Catholics in this country are ready and willing to welcome them. Yours faithfully, Mike Kerrigan Chairman, Movement for Married Clergy, by email
