To my mind, there is no doubt that Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo of India has identified the root cause of the problem of dwindling 'vocations' worldwide. .............................................................. > From: Lawrence Rodrigues <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [Goanet] Bishops Discuss Church's Future
> See http://cbs5.com/topstories/topstories_story_287012340.html > > VATICAN CITY(AP) Bishops from around the world began discussing > proposals Thursday on running the church, including ways to address > the priest shortage . Several synod participants who appeared at a news conference Thursday > concurred that the priest shortage was among the major synod issues. > But they dismissed reporters' questions about whether married priests > were an option, saying a celibate priesthood was not the reason for > the shortage. > > **"The shortage of priests is a symptom of the problem," said Cardinal > Telesphore Placidus Toppo of India. "The real problem is the crisis of > faith."** > Scola noted that several bishops had raised the issue, including > references to so-called "viri probati" or married men of proven virtue > who could be ordained. Others spoke of the need to better distribute the priests that exist, > while several bishops of the Eastern rite, which allows married > priests, spoke about their experiences. "To this proposal, some fathers ... have affirmed that the hypothesis > of the 'viri probati' wasn't a path worth traveling." > > Monsignor Sofron Stefan Mudry, of the Eastern rite Catholic church in > Ukraine, echoed this sentiment at the news conference, saying a > married priesthood brings "unending problems" to the church, including > housing issues and the costs involved in supporting a priest with a > family. .............................................. 'Viri probati' sounds like an exciting option. It will be of use only if the married priest also works professionally to feed his family as done by the Protestent pastors[ and, possibly, the early Christians like St.Peter the fisherman and St.Paul the tent maker] and not be dependent on the parishioners to foot the bill of the wife and children as reportedly is the case of the Eastern rite. I would agree with Bishop Scola and Monsignor Mudry. However, let us await the conclusions of the synod of Bishops before we take this discussion further. Viva Goa. Miguel
