The battle for celibacy

THE POPE already said it. The celibacy rule for priests stays. I hope the debate spurred by some clerical scandals stops. It has gone to ridiculous twists and turns.

Some self-appointed pundits, at times playing psychologists and psychiatrists, have really made funny caricatures of the issue. Celibacy is inhuman, is repressive, is a deterrent to good people wanting to become priests, etc.

There was even one writer who, in a fit of self-righteous wisdom, managed to categorize priests into two. Either they are sex maniacs or gays. In short, all of them -- me, included -- are supposed to be perverts! That's breaking news indeed.

I think we have many other much more important things to do than try to expose the fallacies and stupidities inherently embedded in these wild arguments and gratuitous claims.

But certainly, priestly celibacy is a serious matter that should be understood very well. The Pope already said that it is a gift from God for the Church, that it is a sign of a priest's undivided love for God and for others.

These wonderful realities, supernatural and pious, ought to be corresponded to humanly and translated into some effective and practical programs for all priests.

God's grace does not do away with human cooperation. Grace requires human effort. This is because man is an intelligent and free creature. He is in fact a child of God. God treats him -- us -- the way he treats himself. Thus, celibacy is both God's grace and man's responsibility.

I prefer to look at these scandals and problems surrounding priestly celibacy as golden occasions for us to rise to the challenge of developing the love and dignity God has intended for us.

In other words, let's not get stuck with the mess. Let's clean it, and learn some precious lessons.

Like, first of all, there should be unremitting effort to clean our environment from so much moral filth -- pornography, corruption, deception, etc. -- and to strengthen always the institutions of marriage and family, the seedbed of vocations.

The selection of applicants to seminaries should be strict. Those with quite obvious problems in the area of purity should be told to go somewhere else. They may be bright and clever, but if the problem requires professional expertise, then the seminary is not for them.

The formation in the seminary should stick closely to the indications already given by the Vatican. There one is trained to be mature and to integrate the different aspects of human and Christian development.

In this program of studies, there is due attention given to the psychological as well as to the spiritual and theological dimensions.

One very crucial aspect of seminary formation is spiritual direction. There the seminarians should learn to confide everything taking place in their life. This should be done freely and willingly. Otherwise, they can be sent out. Let's not waste time.

The seminary fathers should be well trained. More than that, they should be clear models of what good and holy priests should be. If they start wearing ponytails and earrings, or get too casual in their dealings with women, then they have no place there.

Also, the seminary should not be made an asylum for problem priests or priests who may want to be pure intellectuals but not priests. That would be a brilliant example of imprudence. The seminary is a controlled environment, much like a womb or cocoon for the proper gestation of vocations.

Then, of course, priestly life should be infused with norms of prudence to protect and foster celibacy. When priests are too chummy with girls, or girls are allowed to get too close with priests, then the problem will just be a matter of time.

Priests should maintain some kind of distance, both physical and moral, while dealing with women. That is why they should also dress properly. Confessions and spiritual direction with women should better be in a confessional.

Certainly, the struggle to uphold, defend and promote priestly celibacy requires constant battle. The ideal situation should be that priests feel their celibacy is a true celebration and affirmation of love.