In May 2009, Fr Alberto Cutie, a Catholic priest from Miami, was photographed on a local beach with an unidentified woman, who turned out to be his girlfriend of two years. Fr Cutie, who is well known in the United States for his television show and best-selling book ‘Real Life, Real Love,’ was torn between his love for the Church and his love for his girlfriend. It is these very situations that raise questions as to why the Church insists on celibacy for priests and why they cannot marry.
Let’s begin with the Catechism of the Catholic Church which says: ‘All the ordained ministers of the Latin Church, with the exception of permanent deacons, are normally chosen from among men of faith who live a celibate life and who intend to remain celibate “for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.” Called to consecrate themselves with undivided heart to the Lord and to “the affairs of the Lord,” they give themselves entirely to God and to men. Celibacy is a sign of this new life to the service of which the Church’s minister is consecrated; accepted with a joyous heart, celibacy radiantly proclaims the Reign of God.’ (CCC 1579)
In essence this paragraph sums up the idea of priestly celibacy as being a voluntary vow through which they can give their whole effort and attention in the service of the Lord.
Another way to look at this is to consider that at his ordination the priest becomes the spouse of the Church. Were he able to marry a woman as well, he would have two wives and would be divided in his tending to the needs of each wife.
A vow of voluntary celibacy frees him to give his whole and undivided attention to his priestly ministry, a ministry that can be very demanding and all consuming. He can be attentive to the needs of his wife, the Church, and minister effectively and unrestrictedly to the flock he has been given to shepherd.
In the Gospel of St Matthew, Jesus explains the idea of celibacy for the sake of the kingdom in more detail: ‘But he said to them, “Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.”’ (Matthew 19:11-12)
This sort of celibacy ‘for the sake of the kingdom’ is a call, a gift that is not granted to everyone. Ordained priests have chosen willingly to live in the celibate state, no one has forced them to do so. This is something the late Pope John Paul II explains in much detail in his ‘Theology of the Body.’
So then, what happens if an ordained priest like Fr Cutie falls in love and wants to marry? First of all, after prayerful consideration and discernment an ordained priest must decide whether to continue in the active priesthood. Should he discern that God calls him to continue to live the life of an active priest he would consult with his bishop, seek guidance and counsel and after a period of time he may be re- admitted to active ministry.
Should an ordained priest wish to leave the priesthood he may request to be laicized, to lose the clerical state. He will still however, have the indelible spiritual character of Holy Orders as this can never be taken away, but he will be released from the obligations of the clerical state. This does not include his vow of celibacy. Should laicization be granted he is still bound by his vow of celibacy and must apply to be granted dispensation from his vow of celibacy from the Pope himself (cf. Code of Canon Law 291).
Thus, it is possible for a priest who has been laicized and dispensed from his vow of celibacy, to marry in the Catholic Church. However, the late Pope John Paul II is widely known to have routinely denied all requests for this dispensation thus calling laicized priests to continue to live as celibate men despite their release from the obligations of the clerical state.
Pope Benedict XVI largely maintained John Paul II’s stance on this issue and thus it remains that whilst a priest can obtain permission to leave the active priesthood, it is likely he will not receive permission to marry.
Sadly for Fr Cutie, within a month of the photographs of him and his girlfriend being published, he decided to leave the Catholic Church in favour of the Episcopalian Church, which would allow him to serve as a minister after he completes a diaconate with them, and would also allow him to marry his girlfriend.
For him and other priests who leave the Catholic Church and marry invalidly, in other Churches or in civil marriages, we must pray that they correct their situation by asking for both laicization and dispensation from their vow of celibacy so that they might once again be in union with the Catholic Church.
Originally posted 2015-01-15 22:07:50.