Sir, - Fr Jackie Robinson (June 3rd) writes that it was only at the Lateran Council (1139) that clerical celibacy became a universal law - that up to that time, married priests were "working alongside celibate priests" just as today in England, where former Anglican ministers who are now married Catholic priests are working alongside Catholic priests. He says that celibacy is "not intrinsic to the priesthood", that it is "an outdated Church rule" and that it ignores "the sheep that are not being fed".
As regards celibacy becoming a general norm only at the Lateran Council, Roman Cholij, a priest of the Ukrainian Rite, has conclusively shown that this statement is based on a mistranslation of c. 6 of this Council (cf. Periodica, vol 78, no. 2). He, and other authors such as Conchini, have proved beyond any reasonable doubt that, even from Apostolic times, total continence was expected from all clerics, even those who were married when ordained.
Pope John Paul II has repeatedly stated in his historic document on the theology of the priesthood (Pastores dabo vobis) that celibacy is intrinsic to the priesthood. The law requiring it merely reflects this deep inner connection. The priest is configured to or grafted onto Christ as Head and Spouse of the Church. Paul VI in his encyclical on priestly celibacy emphasised the same point. As regards the argument sometimes advanced that parishes will be left priestless due to this insistence of celibacy, he said that Christ himself picked a very small group, "a little flock", but the power always comes from Christ Himself and that we should follow His way rather than man's wisdom and power.
The 1971 Synod of Bishops fully supported the Pope and ruled out any suggestion that married people of proven virtue ("viri probati") should be ordained to meet the shortage of priests. What Christ is looking for in a vocation is not some functionary but one who is willing to sacrifice even basic values such as marriage in order to give himself completely to Christ. He must live the sacrifice he offers. Finally, as regards the exceptions to this norm allowed by the Catholic Church today (e.g. married priests in the Eastern Catholic Churches and former Anglican ministers), these are permitted for ecumenical reasons and the Church is very anxious that they do not in any way undermine the general norm of celibacy. Married priests from the Anglican Church, for example, are asked to "support the norm of celibacy in the Latin Church" and cannot be appointed as parish priests in the pastoral ministry. Similarly there are restrictions on the ministry of married priests of the Eastern Rites. Roman Cholij says that the ultimate aim in these Eastern Rites is to make celibacy a norm for all priests. - Yours, etc., Rev Michael Manning,
Millstreet, Co Cork.