Mistresses of Priests get a Hearing

The Guardian, always a reliable source for stories that others do not have access to, tells of a letter written to the Pope by the mistresses of Italian priests that discusses the problems and the heartaches of the women who love priests and the frustrations of the priests who make love with the women who are now asking for the Pope to abolish the celibacy rule that requires priests to remain celibate. Priests do not marry, but more times than the hierarchy would like, they are not celibate, apparently having sex of one sort or another.

The bad news is that this may be the tip of another iceberg for the Catholic Church. The good news is that this time the scandal involves women rather than altar boys.

The letter, in requesting reconsideration of the celibacy rule, pointed out that celibacy of priests was not required until late in the Roman Catholic Church’s history, is not required of priests of Eastern Rite (Orthodox) churches, and is not required today of Anglican (Episcopal) priests who are married when they transfer to the Roman Catholic priesthood.

In an earlier article entitled Celibacy is not the Problem, I argued that

“Whatever the reason for having a celibate priesthood in the past, it appears that the Church may need to face up to the fact that celibacy may be the least of the difficulties for Catholics. As for any theological reason to maintain celibacy, that seems strained at best. Women played a significant leadership role in the early church but that role was dismissed as irrelevant by those who at a much later time in church history advocated for celibacy. The point is that there is no theological or practical reason to continue the outmoded and unnecessary practice of celibacy in the Church.”

It will not solve the pedophilia problem. However the possibility of marriage is likely to draw a healthier group of men (from a sexual/mental health standpoint) to the priesthood, and that would be a good thing.

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