Sir, - In what was described as "a most unusual motion" passed by Cork County Council, it urged the bishops to press for celibacy be made "optional" for priests, stating that this is what "the vast majority" of people wanted and that the Church must take "a proactive approach" in the "crisis situation" that it now faces (The Irish Times, May 25th).
As well as being "a most unusual motion", this was also a most misleading motion. Pope John Paul II has made it quite clear that the requirement of celibacy is "deeply ingrained" in the very nature of priesthood, that it comes from Christ himself - not from some Church law - and that it must be upheld at all costs. Just as Christ remained unmarried and dedicated his whole life to His Church, he asked his disciples to do likewise and asked the whole Christian community to pray for this to the "Lord of the Harvest".
The Church has always seen the vocation to priesthood in these terms - he is called to live "in the person of Christ". The Penitentials of early Irish Church show how determined the Irish Church was at that time to uphold clerical celibacy. To be genuinely "pro-active" in Christian terms, one must challenge the ways of this world by following the ways of Christ. - Yours, etc., Rev Michael Manning,
Millstreet, Co Cork.