A non-Catholic judge in Australia has been sharply rebuked by Catholics after he called for the Catholic Church to end the "cruel, cruel" practice of priestly celibacy. The ignorant judge implied that celibacy may be a factor in clerical abuse and claimed it must be "agonizing" for priests to be celibate. Even an opponent of priestly celibacy admitted that there have been "so many studies that show it's not the vow of celibacy that prompts a man to abuse a child."
"Holy virginity and that perfect chastity which is consecrated to the service of God is without doubt among the most precious treasures which the Founder of the Church has left in heritage to the society which He established." (Pope Pius XII, "Sacra Virginitas", 1954 A.D.)
"Now, however, We want you to rally to combat the abominable conspiracy against clerical celibacy. This conspiracy spreads daily and is promoted by profligate philosophers, some even from the clerical order. They have forgotten their person and office, and have been carried away by the enticements of pleasure. They have even dared to make repeated public demands to the princes for the abolition of that most holy discipline. But it is disgusting to dwell on these evil attempts at length. Rather, We ask that you strive with all your might to justify and to defend the law of clerical celibacy as prescribed by the sacred canons, against which the arrows of the lascivious are directed from every side." (Pope Gregory XVI, "Mirari Vos", 1832 A.D.)
Related: Why Priestly Celibacy? [Note: This article includes refutation of the argument that celibacy has led to the abuse scandals]
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