Här är vad Vatikanen kom fram till i torsdags angående det obligatoriska prästcelibatet - miraklet uteblev till synes.
Men viktigt är också vad som INTE sägs - mina reflektioner om det hittar ni under citatet - även de på engelska eftersom jag skrev dem på engelska.
"This morning, November 16, in the Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father presided over one of the periodic meetings with heads of dicasteries of the Roman Curia to engage in a joint reflection. Participants in the meeting received detailed information on petitions for dispensation from the obligation of celibacy presented in recent years and on the possibility of readmission, to the exercise of the ministry, of priests who at present meet the conditions established by the Church. The value was reaffirmed of the option for priestly celibacy, according to the Catholic tradition, and the need was confirmed for a solid human and Christian formation for seminarians as well as for already ordained priests."
As far as I can see - the document can be interpreted in two directions - either negatively or positively. Here I'll make an attempt to interpret it positively - since it actually leaves an opening for an optional celibacy.
Right now they obviously felt the strong need to mark that Milingo isn't an example to follow - to avoid that he one day gets the honour for a return to an optional celibacy? If it will change - the Vatican wants to be the one that is in control and changes it - although in very small steps.
They're saying that celibacy is good. BUT they don't say that celibacy is the ONLY good way and that it might not change (which they would say if that's what they meant - cf. women in ministry, where the words are more direct).
They say: "the value was reaffirmed of the option for priestly celibacy, according to the Catholic tradition".
They call it "option" - which suggests that there might be other options too in the future - but that this option shall always remain as well.
And it's also mentioned in the article accompanying the short message that priests have returned to their ministries - without giving up their eventual marriages? Maybe there are some exceptions at least?
Although they say that what they now thought of was: "the possibility of readmission, to the exercise of the ministry, of priests who at present meet the conditions established by the Church".
I think the words "at present" are important there - it might be a sign saying that in the future there might be other "conditions established by the Church" too.
If one interprets it positively - this might be a first little, almost invisible, step.
And maybe those who asked for dispensations will get that after it's examined deep enough? They didn't say anything about it - which may be a sign pointing in that direction.
Remember: the Vatican often changes things by omitting things - rather than declaring changes in a big way - they don't want too much attention about it - since the "infallible" teachings would then not look so infallible any longer.
I don't think the last word is said...Etiketter: celibat, married catholic priest gift katolsk präst, mirakel |
