Pope has no authority to abolish celibacy, says Cardinal

By Patrick Matbob

 

Locals welcome the bishops.

Popes do not have the authority to abolish celibacy for priesthood in the Latin church nor can they ordain women to priesthood.

This was the word from Cardinal Jan Schotte, General Secretary of the Synod of Bishop in Rome to seminarians at the Rapolo Inter-diocesan College in Rabaul on Tuesday.

He said the question of celibacy came alive after the Vatican II when many people believed that the celibacy of priest would be abolished.

“We don’t think there can be any compelling reason to change that.”

He said priest were celibate not only because it frees them from being burdened by family life.

He said the priesthood conforms to the priesthood of Christ and brings to life the person of Christ.

He said those who are saying that celibacy should be abolished because priestly vocations  are dying out in particular areas should question the faith life of that community. He said if the community is not living the faith then there will be no vocations.

He said we should pray because usually if there are no priestly vocations, it means there are no prayers in the community, the families are not praying, parishes are not praying for vocation.

He said recent statistics actually show that there is an increase in priestly vocations especially in Africa.

He said the pope has responded to this question by saying that he does not have the power to change the tradition of the church.

Cardinal Schotte said the same is true for the ordination of women.

He said we have not invented the church. It was Christ who established the church and so people have no authority to change the tradition.