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PDF versionBishop Zavala & Celibacy
by Michael Sean Winters on Jan. 05, 2012
The surprise resignation of Los Angeles auxiliary bishop Gabino Zavala, and the even more surprising reason for that resignation, has already ignited a renewed conversation about celibacy. That is an interesting conversation, and an important one, but it is not the first thing that occurred to me when I heard the news.
Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln has failed to participate in the audits of anti-sex abuse procedures set up by the USCCB in 2002 at Dallas, yet no one at the Vatican has seen fit to demand his resignation. Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph has been indicted in civil court and, whatever the outcome of those proceedings, clearly also failed to abide by the 2002 Dallas norms governing the reporting of clergy sex abuse. Has anyone thought to demand his resignation?
We know very little about the circumstances of Bishop Zavala’s situation, but we know that he had two children. If there were only one, we might conclude that the child was the result of a moment of weakness. The fact that there are two children suggests that what happened to Bishop Zavala was not a moment of weakness but that he fell in love. Yes, acting on that love violated his vows. But, it is hard to sustain a sense of betrayal at his falling in love, at least it is hard for me to sustain such a sense of betrayal.
Nothing we learned yesterday, nor anything we are likely to learn in the days ahead, can detract an iota from Bishop Zavala’s record as one of the outstanding bishops in the United States. A forceful advocate for social justice, Zavala was not afraid to preach the Church’s social teachings as loudly as he preached the Church’s pro-life teachings. His commitment to human dignity was thorough, extending to the undocumented as well as to the unborn, encompassing concern for the poor as well as concern for religious liberty. The loss of his voice will be felt deeply for many years.
The issue of clerical celibacy arouses some strong passions. And, it is more than a little ironic that the resignation of Bishop Zavala came days after the erection of an Anglican ordinariate that will serve as home for dozens of married clergy, and will be headed by a married ordinary. But, that new ordinary, Rev. Jeffrey Steenson, will not be ordained a bishop in the Catholic Church because he is married. The Eastern Orthodox, which allow married clergy, also do not permit married bishops.
I am no expert on how the rule of clerical celibacy developed in history. But, I know this. In our sex-crazed culture, I would hate for us to lose it. Yes, in seminary, I encountered some men who were psycho-sexually under-developed and were looking for a way to hide that fact by putting themselves on a clerical pedestal. They usually did not survive formation. Yes, we lose the services of many good men who might make wonderful priests. But, someone in our culture needs to say that sex is not the most important thing in the world and the rule on clerical celibacy says that. Indeed, it points to the fact that none of the “things of this world” are the most important things, that it is the things of the next world that should garner more of our attention and care. The critics of clerical celibacy must acknowledge this: When someone meets a Catholic priest, it is one of the first thoughts that occurs – I wonder what drives a person to choose a life that permits no sexual pleasure?
In the past few decades, our culture’s obsession with sex has only gotten worse. How many marriages are wrecked because a spouse gives into the temptations that our culture celebrates in movies, television and literature? Growing up, I do not remember much in the way of a “fitness culture” and there was not a gym on every corner as there is today – is this primarily about fitness or is it really about staying sexually desirable? Certainly, it is about celebrating the flesh in a way that is unhealthy, at least for many of those who participate in it. Where in our culture do we celebrate the beauty of a lifelong commitment, faithfully sustained the way we celebrate a nice six-pack of abs?
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We Catholics are called to witness to the Kingdom of God. We witness to that Kingdom every time we work for justice. We witness to that Kingdom every time we kneel before the tabernacle in prayer. We witness to that Kingdom every time we do an act of kindness to someone who is poor or vulnerable. And, we witness to that Kingdom whenever we affirm that the joys of this life are only joys when they point us towards the greater joys of heaven. The rule of celibacy does that, not always, not perfectly, but it does point beyond the horizon of human experience.
As for Bishop Zavala, it is my hope that he will find God’s forgiveness for transgressing his vow of celibacy and that he will also find great joy in the life of his children. The thing he did was wrong but it was not bad.
Over the years, I have known
Over the years, I have known several priests who left the priesthood to marry.
Others became involved with women, but broke off the relationship and stayed in the priesthood, often being very unhappy. I suspect that at some point in the future, the Vatican will allow for the ordination of married men. Even some "conservatives" are starting to question the blanket ban, with the entrance of married former Anglican Priests being ordained as Catholic Priests.
Some Conservatives try to lump ordaining women with ordaining married men. They are not the same thing, and the refusal to budge one inch has made the Church brittle. A shame that a good Bishop or priest has to leave because he is in love with a woman.
Bible states a bishop should
Bible states a bishop should be married, and proof of being a good candidate for bishopship is a good marriage and good management of the children.
New Testament.
So by banning marriage, demeaning marriage and not promoting married priests, the scripture is ignored and debased!
Peter was married. The pope would have kicked him out. Junia, Foremost of the Apostles, was married to Chuza, pope would have kicked her out.
Samaritan woman had been married a few times, was living common-law. Jesus admired her! Pope would have kicked her out.
Crazy RCC and other churches who debase New Testament because of their own disordered ideas against marriage and man-woman sex.
RCC does not seem to mind pedophilia as long as it is kept secret! So Finn and Law and many others kept on despite pedophilia enabling. Tells a lot about B16 and the previous pope JPII.
Well done, Michael. I hope
Well done, Michael. I hope Bishop Zavala takes some time off and finds a way to continue his ministry without sacrificing his obligations to his family.
Celibacy can witness to the
Celibacy can witness to the priority of the Kingdom of God in a unique way, but linking it as a requirement for priestly leadership is a false conclusion. Yes we have a culture that celebrates the primacy of sexual activity (as distinct from healthy sexuality), but we can "celebrate the beauty of a commitment, faithfully sustained" not only through celibacy but also through loving marriage and family. Marriage includes sexual intimacy but that alone is not the full expression marriage. The call to celibacy should be individual, not as a class. There are lay people called to a life of celibacy, as well as some priests. God created us sexual beings, male and female. Our sexuality is expressed in many ways, not only through acts of sexual intimacy. Each individual needs to find the path by which God intended them to express their sexuality. And most of all, children need to not be deprived of the nurturance of their father because of a mandate that prevents a man or woman from following ALL to which he or she is called.
Beautiully said.
Beautiully said.
When it is boy-kiddie porn,
When it is boy-kiddie porn, pedophilia or homosexuality you can remain a bishop or a priest; when you like women it's out the door with you. Anybody else see a pattern here? Has the Vatican actually made women-hating a requirement for ordination?
There are many who have made
There are many who have made gay-hating a requirement for ordination.
How does one FIND Gods
How does one FIND Gods forgiveness? The Bishop found (so to speak) forgiveness when he stopped living a lie. He became true to his self. We say people make vows to God, but in actuality they really make vows to the institution or the church. How well did the man function as a bishop when he was fathering children, did he support his lover (wife), might be another rerason for married clergy in the R C Church
Well said Jack, the mindest
Well said Jack, the mindest of so many Catholics don't take this into account.
How many are having relationships with women in another state or town, including religious.
Whether they are aware or not, Canon Law also permits the spurious brother/sister arrangements, to preserve the priesthood.
The fact is, many look the other away until it becomes public knowledge, then they're obliged to let their voices heard in "holy indignation", calling it human frailty, if lucky or labelled a fornicator if requesting to take leave of religious life where a mother has given birth to his child he wants to publicly acknowledge, and share their lives as a father in the true sense.
It's a church of contradictions, stated Australian Bishop Keven Manning some time ago.
He couldn't have said it better.
Sex and sexuality are great
Sex and sexuality are great gifts from God. Early in the Book of Genesis, God is depicted as creating a partner for Adam because God sees that it is not good for Adam to be alone. And early on Genesis God commands that we be frutiful and mutiply. Genesis reflects a great truth: God has provided us with the inate drive and capacity for intimate and sexual connection with each other. Mandatory celibacy is an unwarranted rejection of God's gifts to us. In Judaism, it is said that when we meet God after death, we must account not only for our sins, but also for the gifts from God we have rejected. There is no rational or spiritual or scriptural reason why celibacy must be mandatory for RC priests. The first 39 popes of the RCC were married and for the first 1,200 yrs of the RCC, celibacy was an option and marriage was an option for priests. That actually was something sensible. The RCC should return to that sensible idea.
While don't necessarily agree
While don't necessarily agree with you on question of clerical celibacy, I cannot express enough gratitude for your thoughtful articulation of Bishop Zavala's legacy and contributions to the church in the US.
Bishop Zavala's case is only
Bishop Zavala's case is only the tip of the iceberg. I have served as a priest for more than 40 years, first in the Roman Catholic Church, and today in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. I have known a number of fine Roman Catholic priests who had private long term relationships with men or women which were never disclosed, and even today many of them continue to render outstanding service to the Church as Bishop Zavala appeared to do. One would hope that the powers that be would tune into this reality and adjust its rules and regulations accordingly.
Monsignor Clifton Ransom, Jr.,
Mitred Archpriest.
In all honesty Msgr. how can
In all honesty Msgr. how can they live a double life.
I can't enter into the male on male relationship, but as a hetrosexual couple if refering to sexual intimacy.
If they love each other, they become one, entering another sphere when enjoined in ecstacy, and to continue in the relationship where it is fulfilled in this manner affects the psyche.
That's why the spurious brother/sister arrangement, permitted in Canon Law is spiritual suicide for both, the Confessional a contributor and a mockery.
The local print mwdia has
The local print mwdia has never done any investigation of Zavala other than to take hin at face value. After all, he has all the correct credentials that make him immune to investigation or criticism...born in Mexico, member of ultra-Lefty Pax Christi, advocate for "social justice", promoter of (illegal)immigrant rights, etcetc. Also, the local archdiocesan spokesperson who covers for him has the finesse in dealing with the media of a Mafia criminal defender after long association with Mahoney. How cool can all this be? Proud to be a California Catholic?
A very sensitive issue which
A very sensitive issue which Fr. Winters handled with...sensitivity. I don't agree with his conclusion but his ability to remain objective and consider the complexities of the issue and the Bishop are appreciated. Civility and civil tone are much in need for any fruitful discussion.
Which leads me to AMBRO...your attack seems so out of synch with this article and moreover it doesn't seem to make make sense and is off topic. I'm sorry that you didn't think twice before sending that. Perhaps you might do so in the future.
Who is "Fr. Winters" ?
Who is "Fr. Winters" ?
Ah, yes, mandatory celibacy.
Ah, yes, mandatory celibacy. It's right up there with NFP in terms of reality versus dreaming.
I'm sure that all of those married priests joining the Orneryariate are staunch defenders of celibacy - not not for me, Lord.
Proud to be a California
Proud to be a California Catholic? Ask these orthotoxic California Catholic wing nuts: http://www.calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=5c9f44b8-7d05-4f95-8...
The reason the orthodox have
The reason the orthodox have a two track system for married men who stay priests and unmarried men who can become bishops (and you can't marry after ordination) was because they did not want the children of bishops inheriting Church property. That can be avoided by abandoning a feudal personal ownership model for church property and institutions and joining the 21st century. Then both bishops and priests can marry and have kids.
More importantly, priestly celibacy must be abandoned because of the way it affects how the Church teaches about sex in the culture. While the kingdom of God is not of this world, it is IN this world. We don't obey sexual norms to get to heaven but to make life bearable - and when those norms make life unbearable they can't be from God and cannot be the result of natural law reasoning. Indeed, celibacy in the Latin rite has, in its origins, ideas on Continence that are offensive to married people and to womanhood in general that must be abandoned for their own sake. There is nothing incompatible with celebrating conjugal love and the Eucharist on the same day - and anyone holding to a belief otherwise should not be allowed to teach about sexuality or sexual ethics. Indeed, such a view is responsible for the warped clericalist views on contraception and unitive love and resistence to accepting homosexuality in a loving marital relationship.
God bless Bishop Zavala. He
God bless Bishop Zavala. He has done many wonderful things in his priesthood. I hope he continues to be a strong advocate for social justice and that he can now spend more time with his children.
Fr. B
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