YESTERDAY, SEVERAL COMMENT MAKERS, DUBLIN PRIESTS AMONG THEM, ALLEGED THAT TWO SENIOR DUBLIN PRIESTS ARE IN A LONG TERM GAY RELATIONSHIP.
From the human point of view there is absolutely nothing wrong with two men committed to each other in a loving relationship.
In fact the people of Ireland recently put gay marriage on a par with heterosexual marriage.
The problem only arises because of RC teaching and canon law.
It is absolutely clear in RC teaching that ordained priests be celibate for life. While, technically, celibacy means not to marry, the spirit of the law and teaching requires that priests never engage in sexual intimacy with any other human being, or indeed with themselves.
As far as the church is concerned two priests cannot be regarded as a “couple”.
A priest is, and is seen to be, a representative of the RC church.
To preach and teach one thing, and to contradict that teaching in your own private life is to leave yourself open to the charge of hypocrisy.
The RC church says that all sexual activity outside the Sacrament of Marriage is sinful.
I dont believe that.
But priests within the system, especially if they occupy positions of upholding canon law and church teaching, are bound even more closely by that law and teaching.
You can’t have your cake and eat it.
I have referred all the information I have received to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. He was surprised at the information. He will now begin a formal enquiry, while presuming innocence until guilt is proven. We cannot disagree with that. That is justice.
Of course the phenomena of two priests being couples is becoming more and more common. There are priest couples in all Irish dioceses. There are many in the Archdiocese of Dublin.
Even if the celibacy rule changes I cannot see the Vatican blessing and allowing priest couples.
So let us see what comes out of the current investigation in Dublin.
What do readers think?
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 