Celibacy, Confession & Big Tent Theology

 

Some important issues discussed in this week's episode of Catholic Unscripted.

The Seal of the Confessional. 

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) has taken aim at the seal of the confessional, purportedly in an attempt to protect children.

Secular society is looking for scapegoats for the rampant abuse of minors in our society. Does this exist because of sexual moral or because it naturally comes when you relax the norms that protect intimate relationships. As religious illiteracy grows in society, one repercussion is seen through IICSA taking aim at the sanctity of the seal of confession. Our discussion about why is this challenge is problematic quickly turns into an explanation of the importance, power & beauty of this incredible Sacrament of grace. For more on what the seal of confession is see here https://www.catholic.com/magazine/onl... 

Priestly celibacy 

This discussion was sparked by Gavin's podcasted conversation with Ann Widdecombe see here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast... - it is very good for lots of reasons, but what really got us going was Ann's assertion that Catholic discipline on the celibacy of clergy will have to be relaxed at some point due to the vocations crisis.

For those who don't know who Ann Widdecombe is, is a British politician, author and television personality. She was Member of Parliament (MP) for Maidstone and The Weald, and the former Maidstone constituency, from 1987 to 2010 and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for South West England from 2019 to 2020. Originally a member of the Conservative Party, she was a member of the Brexit Party from 2019 until it was renamed Reform UK in 2021.

She converted to Catholicism in 1993 from the Church of England and so is a bit of a celebrity convert to Catholicism, much like our beloved Dr. Ashenden himself!

This is always an issue which animates Catholics. We ask if removing the commitment to priestly celibacy is really the solution to the vocations crisis? Celibacy is certainly a particular challenge in a society where access to erotic imagery is so easy. It is no doubt an even greater challenge for men, especially young men, whose vocation involves forming close personal relationships with people ad talking about their deepest darkest selves. But does the sexualisation of our society make celibacy redundant? Would relaxing priestly celibacy bring an influx of priestly vocations? Why is it that more orthodox Catholic communities like the ICKSP & FSSP have packed seminaries while dioceses all over the world struggle to engage men?


ABOVE: October 24th 2022 at the seminary in Gricigliano, some British vocations posed with Canon Montjean, Provincial of Great Britain. In Preston, they received six new candidates who will spend the scholastic year with them.

Radical Inclusion 

At the Vatican, bishops are having discussions on "Big Tent Catholicism" see: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/ne... The Vatican's latest synod discussion has resulted in a document which promotes so-called "radical inclusion". This, as Gavin explains, is a serious rejection of the whole enterprise of Christianity. What we need is radical discrimination as Katherine puts it.

I hope you enjoy this episode. You can subscribe at Catholic Unscripted.

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