I REFER to the current debate to allow priests to marry.
I would love to see every church in Australia with its own priest and the Eucharist available at daily Mass everywhere, but I think those who advocate allowing priests to marry as our hope for the future need to take a reality check.
Let me say from the outset that I am not necessarily opposed to married priests, but I am uncomfortable with the idea of priests marrying.
If a married priesthood was to be allowed, I should think the call to marriage would come first, and I think Scripture supports this.
I want my parish priest to be consumed with love for Jesus, not one of his parishioners!
But I simply don’t think that the issue of marriage is at the heart of the problem, otherwise we would have a flourishing population of ordained deacons just waiting for the opportunity to take that next step to priesthood – and to my knowledge this is not the case.
Incidentally, if we did have more deacons the Eucharist would in fact be more available than it currently is.
Imagine having five or more deacons in every parish to distribute the Eucharist weekly (or even more frequently) to remote corners of the parish!
Apart from the general problems of selfishness and fear of commitment in Western society, I think one of the biggest contributors to the problem is people not being encouraged to even consider the calling.
The vast majority of children/young adults have simply not been exposed to the idea of priesthood or religious life as a realistic option.
We are far more likely to passively grow up with the idea that our parents wish for us to do well at school, go to university, get a well paid career, then be happily married and provide them with grandchildren.
There is of course nothing wrong with this path in life, and the call to marred life is as holy as the call to priesthood.
In fact the disciples lamented at the depth of holiness and commitment Jesus required of married couples (Matt 19:8-12).
But how many of us as parents either consciously or subconsciously reinforce marriage as the only and expected path?
We are simply not exposed to lots of vibrant, young (or young at heart!) priests, brothers and nuns to be role models and stir a desire for this vocation in us.
We do however see married couples all around – on TV, at the movies, love songs on the radio, peer pressure at school etc.
Hearing a call doesn’t “just happen”. God usually expects us to play a role in being open to His grace and will.
How many of us pray “Lord, if it be your will, call one or more of my children to the priesthood or religious life” and actively encourage our children to develop a deep spirituality that would enable them to discover this calling?
How many of us talk to our children about the beauty of priesthood and religious life? How many of us have seriously considered whether or not we are being called to the diaconate?
I think it is dangerous to impose a human solution on what is essentially a spiritual problem and it would seem that the late and current Holy Fathers feel the same way. After all, “there is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” (Prov 14:12) and “‘my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways’, declares the Lord” (Is 55:8).
Yes, I believe the future of the priesthood in Australia rests in the hands of married couples, but not by assuming the mantle of priest.
Instead we should pray for, raise and educate godly children who are able to discern this very particular calling, and perhaps even offer ourselves up for ordination as deacons.
Where there is a will, God will find a way – His way.
C. NOHLMANS
Gaythorne, Qld
