Sir, - Clearly, human nature has changed during recent decades. Not so long ago, clerical celibacy did not prevent there being a glut of priests, whereas now it is uniquely responsible for "half the world's Catholics going without Mass and the sacraments." At least this is the case if Fr Jackie Robinson (June 3rd) is to be believed, and his is by no means a lone voice. Optional celibacy is increasingly being seen as a panacea for the Church's ills.
It appears to me that much of the current discussion of priestly celibacy is ultimately superficial. If we are serious about analysing and addressing the decline in the number of candidates for the priesthood, we should look a little deeper, and enquire why celibacy is (perceived to be) a problem today, whereas 40 years ago it was not. In the course of our inquiry, we might look inwards, perhaps discovering that our faith is not all that it could and should be, or that our enthusiasm has flagged.
We might then look outwards, and realistically acknowledge the fact that in the culture of generalised eroticism in which we live, celibacy will inevitably be seen as unhealthy and absurd. Perhaps we should not be too quick to conclude that the present climate is healthy and that celibacy is deviant. Generally speaking, society does not want priests to be celibate, as a healthy, happy and productive celibate is - to a great extent - a social gadfly.
Renewal in the priesthood and in Christian life will not be well served by an analysis which is based on little more than an uncritical imbibing of the spirit of the times. Superficiality may be a bigger enemy than celibacy. - Yours, etc.,
Rev Chris Hayden, St John's College, Waterford.