Celibacy

That wonderful institution called marriage has been in the media a lot this week – and for two very different reasons.

In the US, President Barack Obama has faced down deeply conservative voters to reverse his opposition to gay marriage. Interestingly, he cited his Christian values as the primary reason for reversing his thinking. “In the end, the values that I care most deeply about ... is how we treat other people,” he said.

Hallelujah to that, and we can only hope our own Prime Minister Julia Gillard – usually so eager to warm to Mr Obama but on this occasion very quick to shrug him off – reverses her own thinking on the issue sometime soon.

Continue reading "The nature of love and unnatural chastity" »

So by now we have all heard the story of Father Kevin Lee and his crusade to abolish clerical celibacy in the Catholic Church. For those who need a recap: this popular Sydney priest announced to his congregation last Sunday that he had secretly married a woman one year earlier and had since been living a double life.

As a consequence he has been removed from service as a Catholic Priest. Immediately Father Kevin was across the media in print and radio stating his case and decrying the Church for her laws on “forced” celibacy. And as was to be expected, the majority of commentary has come out in favour of him and against the Church.

Father Kevin has always been very diligent in teaching the faith and bestowing the sacraments which makes this story so disappointing but what is most disappointing is the harm and scandal such a situation does to the Catholic Community (and indeed the community at large).

Continue reading "Father Kevin knew the rules before he donned the cloth" »