August 15th is celebrated by Catholics worldwide as the Solemnity of the Ascension of Mary into heaven. As I sat in church last Tuesday, I noticed the mass servants were young girls. In the traditional Catholic Church, it is unheard of. Heck there are still parts of Cameroon that adhere to the rule. Forget the chauvinistic observation here, but Jesus was a man and women really never were mentioned in the Bible as parable-tellers, teachers in the synagogues, etc.
So my psyche started asking these questions about whether ten years from now, we will hear the young ladies come forward that they too were molested by Priests. Nah! That’s not possible, I thought to myself hinging on the fact that Priests were usually more interested in young boys anyways! My seriousness at examining the issue I was preoccupied with drew to a close as it took a humorous turn as my mind started going feral with presumptuous foretelling.
But this issue of priests molesting little boys is noteworthy: pertinent enough to have caused the Papacy to call a meeting in 2003 in the Vatican to discuss the issue. Between January 2002 and September 2003, about 230 people reported abuse in Boston alone. The Boston Archdiocese paid out 98 million dollars in lawsuit settlements causing it to close the Catholic charities foundation and bringing the archdiocese within a hair of bankruptcy.
The Catholic Church has been plagued with a number of issues lately including but not limited to priests involved in illegal activities, priests molesting children(boys especially), priests fathering children, and worst of all, priests covering up these atrocities. Until now, priests were sent to retreats and then reassigned to different parishes when an an allegation of molestation came up. And it is believed that the church would then intimidate the victims into silence. But because so many people started coming forward recently, and even sued the Catholic Church in the US, everyone involved straightened their neckties.
The recent uproar on child molestation accusations by the clergy has led many people to question the church’s devotion to celibacy in the priesthood even citing it as the direct cause for the abusive tendencies most priests have. For fear of sounding blasphemous, I will level my discourse on illustrations drawn from commentaries on the subject presented by more informed people.
Biblical Context
1 Corinthians 7:32-35
Indeed, I want YOU to be free from anxiety. The unmarried man is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he may gain the Lord’s approval. 33 But the married man is anxious for the things of the world, how he may gain the approval of his wife, 34 and he is divided. Further, the unmarried woman, and the virgin, is anxious for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in her body and in her spirit. However, the married woman is anxious for the things of the world, how she may gain the approval of her husband. 35 But this I am saying for YOUR personal advantage, not that I may cast a noose upon YOU, but to move YOU to that which is becoming and that which means constant attendance upon the Lord without distraction.
Need I say more about these verses? Although there are other verses in the Bible that infer the direct opposite of these verses, it is rather clear here why the Catholic Church chooses to have its priests in ‘constant attendance upon the Lord without distraction.’
Celibacy isn’t the Problem
by Cardinal John O’Connor. (Taken from Friday Aug 18th, 1995 Edition of “The Irish family.”)
The article by Cardinal John O’Connor ends with the vibrant three words that stirred me to shudder. “GOD WILL WAIT!” Cardinal John O’Connor didn’t mean that God will wait for you to believe in Him before the last day. He certainly didn’t mean that God will wait for you if you are late in showing up to heaven. He simply meant, God will wait for the persons devoted enough to take the vow of celibacy and join the priesthood.
…God's time – [we] will be bursting our seams once again with joy-filled healthy celibate priests willing to make the sacrifice. God will wait.
In responding to the unremitting media attacks on the Catholic church’s stance on celibacy for priests, the Cardinal points out that priests are just like other men, who are trained to be less sensitive to bodily desires (amid other things) and be able to defy the temptations of diversion to their vocation. He recognizes that it is not easy for the choice to be made and that most priests seem to be happy with the choice they have made to be celibate and become agents of the Word. He also reckons with the fact that some priests that regret their vow of celibacy, are usually readily dispensed from priesthood. And these are things he far-too-well knows and has dealt with, and also recognizes as part of human nature.
The picture of the ideal priests' marriage is vividly painted in this stern retort bringing dust to settle on the issue of the idyllic marriage. People cheat, the Cardinal points out, so what makes us think that a priest getting married means he will not succumb to the temptations and consequently eliminate promiscuity in the ‘sexed’ up society we live in today. This readily goes to dismiss the faulty assertion that if priests were allowed to marry, paedophilia will automatically be a thing of the past, he argues. “Priests are no better than millions of married and single people in the world,” he purports.
Commentary
The idea of celibacy in the priesthood has often been argued to be the individual exertion of the last pontiff, John Paul II. But the idea actually dates back to the early church that formed after Peter. If you consider that the Pope was Peter’s direct successor, then you must expect for him to marry since the Bible clearly states in the gospels of Mark (1:30), Luke (4:38), and Matthew (8:14), that Peter had a mother-in-law. Yes you heard it right! Peter was married. So why do his followers not marry?
Nonetheless, our world today is not the same as it was then. So, arguing that priests should be able to handle temptation isn’t an easy undertaking. The truth is that, if priests were allowed to marry, they will suffer lots of meltdowns primarily due to stress that by and large are not good for any congregation. Imagine having to watch over your family’s affairs and then handle your God’s work in your church. Seriously it is just too much! Reverend Camden in the WB’s famed TV Show, Seventh Heaven is a clear depiction. But then again, this is open to individual interpretation. Seventh Heaven is just a show, and usually Rev Camden handles himself well enough to withstand the pressure of crumbling. Also consider though that he has undergone heart surgery as a direct result of the stress he suffers.
Stress is not the only reason, if priests were to marry, soon, the Parish will start noticing the parish credit card statements having charges from Saks Fifth Ave, or Tiffany’s and this will cause derision because although most men can stand to their wives faces and say: “No! I am not getting you that $3000 dress!” there are also some men that will get anything for their wives even if she wanted the Statue of Liberty in their bedroom. You know where I am going with this… No smart comments! I know of the church of Jesus the Messiah Nebuchadnezzar Bethel House of the Lord Christ the King Worship Kingdom that crumbled cause the pastor embezzled church funds for his mortgage payments, bought a Cadillac and opened a bar. There are many small churches that are evidence enough for this.
Finally, I would like to say that all I am expressing here is pretty close to speculative discourse which leaves room for variant reaction and results. Each person is designed with free will and if the Catholic church’s tradition is that Priests don’t marry, then we must accept that we will not marry if we choose to become Priests. Tradition does not change with time, hence the reason for tradition being a custom i.e. doing something the way it has always been done. We cannot choose to go into priesthood knowing fully well that we are not allowed to marry, and then start lobbying for the sacred calling of the priesthood to be changed to something more soothing to our desires. Humanity is built on tradition and I will stand for tradition always! Change comes at a price and priesthood is not ready to handle celibacy yet!
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9 comments:
Very interesting. And can you believe that there are still people who base their salvation on how many years their priest went to school or some other nonsense like that?! How could anybody believe anything coming from such a culture of perversion and corruption?!
And that's why 2 Timothy 3:1-5 is such a important and relevant scripture : 3 But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, 3 having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, 4 betrayers, headstrong, puffed up [with pride], lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power; and from these turn away.
Having a FORM of Godly devotion(i.e. I believe in God) but proving false to it's power(i.e. but I don't believe the Bible)
Excellent post I just hope all that read it can really start to use their noodle and searc for the TRUTH. It's out there.
You must note here that a few priests are the pervese ones! In this day and age, people make choices that ignore their true calling. The abusive priests and those that helped cover it up will serve their punishment and I know God will frown on them with draconian retort.
As for believing in God and not the Bible, you must note too that believing in God is a personal thing and only an individual knows what he TRUELY believes in.
I however understand that the fact that the Bible was handed down, first orally, then in written form from generation to generation; and it had to be translated in so many languages, there are some things in there that are rather ambiguous and probably would differ from the original text. Anyone who has tried to translate anything knows that the meaning of a sentence or parable (in the case of Jesus), can be gravely misunderstood given the culture or context, thus leading me to arrive at the conclusion that the translation of the Bible may have influenced some of the stories and phrases we have come to know now.
To compound the issue, this translation was done by humans like me and you. This means, just like you and I, there could have been an inadvertent oversight of certain facts and texts, which again leads me to believe that the end product we have today would be very much different from what existed 100 score years ago.
Again, the POSSIBILTY is there and we cannot overlook it especially when there are contradictions in the Bible.
That said, it doesn't make me an atheist because I doubt one or two things that are contradictory in the Bible. It doesn't mean I don't believe in God.
The truth is out there. And hopefully, what I have been told at church is the truth. If not, I will count my losses when my soul goes up to the courts for judgement and I will offer in defence that I knew in my heart that there was a Great and Merciful God, whose Son died for my sins. That I believe in! And I am pretty sure God will recognise that!
The veracity of the Bible has been assailed from many quarters, but none of these efforts has undermined or weakened its position in the least.
Bible history. Sir Isaac Newton once said: I find more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history whatsoever. (Two Apologies, by R. Watson, London, 1820, p. 57) Its integrity to truth proves sound on any point that might be tested. Its history is accurate and can be relied upon. For example, what it says about the fall of Babylon to the Medes and Persians cannot be successfully contradicted (Jer 51:11, 12, 28; Da 5:28), neither can what it says about people like Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar (Jer 27:20; Da 1:1); Egyptian King Shishak (1Ki 14:25; 2Ch 12:2); Assyrians Tiglath-pileser III and Sennacherib (2Ki 15:29; 16:7; 18:13); the Roman emperors Augustus, Tiberius, and Claudius (Lu 2:1; 3:1; Ac 18:2); Romans such as Pilate, Felix, and Festus (Ac 4:27; 23:26; 24:27); nor what it says about the temple of Artemis at Ephesus and the Areopagus at Athens (Ac 19:35; 17:19-34). What the Bible says about these or any other places, people, or events is historically accurate in every detail.
The Bible’s teachings, examples, and doctrines are most practical for modern man. The righteous principles and high moral standards contained in this book set it apart as far above all other books. Not only does the Bible answer important questions but it also provides many practical suggestions which, if followed, would do much to raise the physical and mental health of earth’s population. The Bible lays down principles of right and wrong that serve as a straightedge for just business dealings.
Facts testify to the integrity of the Bible. The Bible narrative is inseparably interwoven with the history of the times. It gives straightforward, truthful instruction in the simplest manner. The guileless earnestness and fidelity of its writers, their burning zeal for truth, and their painstaking effort to attain accuracy in details are what we would expect in God’s Word of truth.
If there is a single point that alone proves the Bible to be the inspired Word of Jehovah it is the matter of prophecy. There are scores of long-range prophecies in the Bible that have been fulfilled.
To just hope that a group of people who have been historically corrupt and perverse are telling you the truth instead of searching for it yourself is itself a gross misstep. God has given each individual the means to find the truth and if we just decide to not search for it then that's our own fault. He told Noah to preach to the people and when they didn't listen he killed them all. The Bible never says that all those people were evil or wicked. it just says they didn't pay attention.
My advice to you is to research the origins of your religion and compare it to what's in the Bible and if it doesn't match then don't assume that it's the Bible that has been tampered with. No. It's the institution. In my research of the Catholic religion I completely understand why a person who has been taught those beliefs would have serious doubts or questions about the Bible. It's because they twist the words or just ignore certian parts. The truth is out there and it's up to YOU to find it and if you choose not to do that then that's on you.
And lastly I'll leave you with a scripture that you should really take to heart and pray on.
Proverbs 2:10-15
2 My son, if you will receive my sayings and treasure up my own commandments with yourself, 2 so as to pay attention to wisdom with your ear, that you may incline your heart to discernment; 3 if, moreover, you call out for understanding itself and you give forth your voice for discernment itself, 4 if you keep seeking for it as for silver, and as for hid treasures you keep searching for it, 5 in that case you will understand the fear of Jehovah, and you will find the very knowledge of God. 6 For Jehovah himself gives wisdom; out of his mouth there are knowledge and discernment. 7 And for the upright ones he will treasure up practical wisdom; for those walking in integrity he is a shield, 8 by observing the paths of judgment, and he will guard the very way of his loyal ones. 9 In that case you will understand righteousness and judgment and uprightness, the entire course of what is good.
10 When wisdom enters into your heart and knowledge itself becomes pleasant to your very soul, 11 thinking ability itself will keep guard over you, discernment itself will safeguard you, 12 to deliver you from the bad way, from the man speaking perverse things, 13 from those leaving the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, 14 from those who are rejoicing in doing bad, who are joyful in the perverse things of badness; 15 those whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their general course.
My dear friend, the way you perceive truth is different from what I think of it. So it is needless to tell me that I should research and pursue Truth. The pursuit will never end. You cannot start now to trace all the steps and turns that the Bible has taken. You are offering a pretty spineless piece of advice. You should actually understand my view point before drawing conclusions. Your research of the truth of the Bible will not yeild the same result for me. That is just how I see it.
Moreover, I haven't doubted the intergrity of the Bible. I however recognise that some of the stories in there may have been altered by man to befit the cultural perversion under which they preached the doctrine handed down to them.
I know the Bible is real. And I believe in it. Again, I reject the ambiguous pieces cause all they do is confuse me and hope that my Priests can make it clear for me. If not, then too bad! I will wait for God's judgement not yours!
Spineless? Wow.
Of course the pursuit of knowledge and truth will never end but to wait on a bunch of pedophiles to tell you what to do next is just ignorant.
A thorough study of the Bible will revela that there are in fact no amiguity in the Bible. In fact you have came to that conclusion on your own. I am quite sure your priest didn't tell you that. So am I to believe you rather than the Bible? No. Will two different people who pursue truth yeild different results? No. Not if both are sincere and honest about what is factual and what is not.
As they always say ingnorance is bliss. Most people including youself feel like if they don't know then they can't be held accountable and that's sadly not the case. Some convince themselves that the Bible has been tampered with despite the absolute proof that it hasn't been tampered with so that it gives them a way out of doing God's will. I understand that because doing the right thing is always a million times harder than doing what the Bible says we should do but ultimately it's no excuse in God's eyes.
I am in no position to judge you or anybody else my friend. I like you as a person and it frustrates me to see you brainwashed. I understand that you've had something hammered into your head for your entire life and no matter how many scriptures I give you that prove most of that stuff to be false you'll still believe it until you open your mind to the fact that what they have done for centuries is lie and make up stuff. Me personally I've always wanted to know it all and have all the facts and then decide for myself. And that was regardless of what I'd been taught my whole life. People's parents always think what they teach their kids is best but doesn't make it so. Most parents teach their kids that Santa Claus brings them toys. No matter how you look at that it's lying to your kids. But they do it because someone lied to them and so on and so on. At some point one of those offspring goes to the library and to the Bible and realizes that it all goes against God's laws and refuses to do it. And what happens? They all look at him/her like they are the one that's crazy. LOL! Matthew 10 :35-37 : 35 For I came to cause division, with a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a young wife against her mother-in-law. 36 Indeed, a man’s enemies will be persons of his own household. 37 He that has greater affection for father or mother than for me is not worthy of me; and he that has greater affection for son or daughter than for me is not worthy of me.
Speaking of Jesus do realize how many times he quoted the Bible? Of course at that time it was called the law and some parts were still being written but all of the old testament had been written and jesus quoted from it all the time. Is that not the best proof of all that God through his HOLY SPIRIT kept the Bible from being tampered with? Before answering just for arguments sakes, think about it.
You remind me of the young rich man that wanted to follow Jesus and asked what he needed to do but when Jesus told him what he had to do the young man walked away grieved because he couldn't bring himself to do those things. Hopefully you won't end up the way he did. Heck hopefully I won't end up the way he did! And when i am discussing these type things with you it's not a condemnation. I can't do that. Nor would I ever do that. We are much more alike than different. I keep this scripture in mind and maybe you should too.
Proverbs 1:2-7 :
2 for one to know wisdom and discipline, to discern the sayings of understanding, 3 to receive the discipline that gives insight, righteousness and judgment and uprightness, 4 to give to the inexperienced ones shrewdness, to a young man knowledge and thinking ability.
5 A wise person will listen and take in more instruction, and a man of understanding is the one who acquires skillful direction, 6 to understand a proverb and a puzzling saying, the words of wise persons and their riddles.
7 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge. Wisdom and discipline are what mere fools have despised.
Don't be a fool Kang.
You and I actually agree on the fact that we both believe in God. I believe in God and have always done so. The fact that I don't do it the way you expect for it to be done worries you and is pretty undeserving to me.
Go back to the days before slavery and see how the white man came in and wiped out African Traditional Religion. They came in and told us that we were not worshipping the right way and that we ought to start believing in things that were written in a book, they called the BIBLE!
Recently, reports have surfaced about African Traditional Religion, which prove in many ways that it was similar to modern day Christianity. Check out Kwabena Dei Ofori-Attah's African Traditional Religion: Triumphs and Rituals, in which he says: African spirits draw their strength, inspiration and wisdom from God. In African traditional Religion, God is seen as the author of life, the maker of everything. African traditional religion belief does not offer any other version of the creation. It is simply the work of God, the omnipotent, the everlasting, ever faithful, and merciful Father of all.
Our forefathers had it right but the whiteman came and told them to believe the Book: then, usher in all the christian churches sprouting up and about. What tells you that your truth is the Truth of the Word? You have your evidence, I have mine but we both know that we love God in our own ways. I am a believer, maybe not as stunch as you, but I do believe and I do my best to show it in the way I can.
"The less apt a man is to make declarative statements, the less likely he is to look foolish in retrospect."
Ah, the eternal struggle between JWs and non-JWs... I was going to comment more comprehensively but chances are my answer'll lead to some sort of controversial response, which I simply don't want. I do think some interesting points were raised in this post though, even though I disagree with the institution of religion itself, JW or not. (DDot, do not even bother responding to this - it is not a jab)
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