A Thesis on Celibacy

[Pius 125]

Thesis on Celibacy

Mendicant Friar Pio Alphonsus

 

           Often times, the noble idea of clerical celibacy is called into question. Those who subscribe to deviant and erroneous ideas of sex and its purpose tend to congregate on the side that calls for the scandalizing of the clergy. Naturally, these hopes are with the poorest of intentions; driving only to smear the purity of holy men and holy women. And with great fervor the opposition to celibacy take it upon themselves to live lives of grave sin and scandal. However, Holy Mother Church, who is without scandal and without grave errors, protected with a certain level of infallibility, shan’t be smeared with impurity.

           When discussing the idea and discipline of celibacy, it is critical to understand the practical, as well as the theological reason behind such a difficult sacrifice.

 

In the World but not Of the World

           For good reason, the clergy are called to be always Heavenward bound and to be natural representatives of holiness and virtue. For this reason, they should refrain from acts that could lead one into temptation and lead one into error. While the world debauches itself, it is the priest, and the Bishop called ultimately to correct and admonish. The Church here below constitutes the seed and the beginning of this kingdom. And as she continues to grow slowly but surely, she longs for the perfect kingdom and ardently desires with all her energy to unite herself with her King in glory. The pilgrim People of God are on a journey through the vicissitudes of this life toward their heavenly homeland.

 

Called to show the Glory of the Kingdom

           Indeed, if we are to share in the glory and pleasure of the love of God in Heaven, why would we have any need to be married or engage in obscenity? Why would we have any reason to love anyone save GOD? Why would we have any effort left to muster after we give GOD our all and everything? For this reason, we are called to show the glory and fortitude of the Kingdom by sacrificing our sexuality.

 

The Pastoral Efficacy

           The consecration to Creator under an additional and lofty title like celibacy evidently gives to the priest, even in the practical field, the maximum efficiency and the best disposition of mind, mentally and emotionally, for the continuous exercise of a perfect charity. This charity will permit him to spend himself wholly for the welfare of all, in a fuller and more concrete way. It also obviously guarantees him a greater freedom and flexibility in the pastoral ministry, in his active and living presence in the world, to which the Creator has sent him so that he may pay fully to all the children of God the debt due to them.

           A true knowledge of the real difficulties of celibacy is very useful, even necessary, for the priest, so that he may be fully aware of what his celibacy requires in order to be genuine and beneficial. But with equal fidelity to the truth, these difficulties must not be given greater value or weight than they actually have in the human or religious sphere, or be declared impossible of solution.

 

           To be clear, celibacy as a virtue is a calling, a vocation that ought to be discerned. And while not the sole calling, and not the only calling for those to accept, it must be maintained so as to not compromise the integrity of Holy Mother Church. To extol the virtues of chastity, clergy ought to maintain their own celibacy.

[Bogrin 120]

((Why is celibacy required when there isn't the tale of First Sin? It doesn't make much sense since women aren't seen as inherent sinful.))

[Pius 125]

Just now, Bogrin said:

((Why is celibacy required when there isn't the tale of First Sin? It doesn't make much sense since women aren't seen as inherent sinful.))

((The notion you cite isn't the foundation for celibacy in Christian tradition. Likewise, women are not seen as inherently sinful. Celibacy is seen as virtuous in spite of this.))

[Bogrin 120]

2 minutes ago, Pius said:

((The notion you cite isn't the foundation for celibacy in Christian tradition. Likewise, women are not seen as inherently sinful. Celibacy is seen as virtuous in spite of this.))

((Augustine of Hippo was the first to postulate that sexual feelings were sinful, and he directly cited the tale of original sin))

[VL 298]

Approved. Please report to your local Bishop.

 

- Bishop Johannes of Courland

[Cracker 4570]

40 minutes ago, Bogrin said:

((Why is celibacy required when there isn't the tale of First Sin? It doesn't make much sense since women aren't seen as inherent sinful.))

 

(( Celibacy is enforced among the clergy to insure the land/tithes/powers they gain from being a religious authority isn't handed off to their sons and instead is left with the church hierachy ))

[Pius 125]

2 hours ago, Bogrin said:

((Augustine of Hippo was the first to postulate that sexual feelings were sinful, and he directly cited the tale of original sin))

((While Augustine did cite the notion that sexual feelings could be sinful (and he was certainly an expert on this), as Augustine describes himself, he was a slave to his sexual impulses. Remember, Augustine was a libertine. While St. Augustine's theological notions are heralded as shaping western thought and Church doctrine, Thomism and its namesake had a far more leading impact. In contrast, St. Thomas repudiates the notion that sexuality is inherently sinful but instead remarks that sexuality ought to be moderated. St. Thomas was a heavily cited source in Paul VI's reaffirmation of celibacy in the Second Vatican Council.))

[Bogrin 120]

15 hours ago, Cracker said:

 

(( Celibacy is enforced among the clergy to insure the land/tithes/powers they gain from being a religious authority isn't handed off to their sons and instead is left with the church hierachy ))

((Wouldn't it make more sense to just have everything they own/gain never be their own personal possession, simply that of the church? It is a lot easier to convince people to give to an organization than to forbid them humanly pleasures, realistically why would this group take that route if that is the sole reason))

 

13 hours ago, Pius said:

((While Augustine did cite the notion that sexual feelings could be sinful (and he was certainly an expert on this), as Augustine describes himself, he was a slave to his sexual impulses. Remember, Augustine was a libertine. While St. Augustine's theological notions are heralded as shaping western thought and Church doctrine, Thomism and its namesake had a far more leading impact. In contrast, St. Thomas repudiates the notion that sexuality is inherently sinful but instead remarks that sexuality ought to be moderated. St. Thomas was a heavily cited source in Paul VI's reaffirmation of celibacy in the Second Vatican Council.))

((Paul VI did not reaffirm celibacy until after the Second Vatican Council, and at the time it was still not requisite. You are thinking of Sacerdotalis Caelibatus. This document does not quite fit the lore currently constructed around the human faith. The idea that celibacy will take them closer to God and mimic the state of affairs in heaven does not mesh. The Seven Skies do not have the same connotation as Christian heaven, it is essentially another life itself. In addition to this, you can't pick and choose portions of history without taking into account how they were reached, otherwise there is no logical application of them. Much of the promotion of celibacy has to do with the inherently misogynistic nature of the Christian faith, something that is most definitely not shared by the Church of the Canon. Where would the Church of the Canon get these ideas of celibacy, if as Cracker said they are just for material reasons? Celibacy is an incredibly extreme requirement and not at all the best method to ensure the results he mentioned. It seems like the Church of the Canon is attempting to mimic Christian history but is missing many critical components required for logical existence.))

[Heff 2460]

On January 24, 2016 at 3:21 PM, Bogrin said:

((Wouldn't it make more sense to just have everything they own/gain never be their own personal possession, simply that of the church? It is a lot easier to convince people to give to an organization than to forbid them humanly pleasures, realistically why would this group take that route if that is the sole reason))

 

((Paul VI did not reaffirm celibacy until after the Second Vatican Council, and at the time it was still not requisite. You are thinking of Sacerdotalis Caelibatus. This document does not quite fit the lore currently constructed around the human faith. The idea that celibacy will take them closer to God and mimic the state of affairs in heaven does not mesh. The Seven Skies do not have the same connotation as Christian heaven, it is essentially another life itself. In addition to this, you can't pick and choose portions of history without taking into account how they were reached, otherwise there is no logical application of them. Much of the promotion of celibacy has to do with the inherently misogynistic nature of the Christian faith, something that is most definitely not shared by the Church of the Canon. Where would the Church of the Canon get these ideas of celibacy, if as Cracker said they are just for material reasons? Celibacy is an incredibly extreme requirement and not at all the best method to ensure the results he mentioned. It seems like the Church of the Canon is attempting to mimic Christian history but is missing many critical components required for logical existence.))

((This group would take celibacy for the same reason the Church had as well. Celibacy is to keep Bishops/Priests/Abbots from passing on their titles, lands, etc. to their relatives. It goes hand in hand with simony and nepotism, priests shouldn't be selling Church offices, giving them to their relatives. To avoid the latter, celibacy is enforced so that priests do not simply just create a hereditary title with their diocese. Celibacy. You clearly do not understand Catholic, or Christian for that matter, history as celibacy was implemented to avoid nepotism. While, in Canonism, there is not the sense of original sin, it is still seen in tradition that sex (especially outside of wedlock) is not considered holy. If you wish to debate the matter, I do not see why you don't bring it up in roleplay. Calling celibacy a practice owing its tradition to mysogonism isextremely  ignorant to years of history.))

[Daisy 9732]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

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