Priests embrace celibacy

Celibacy should be seen as 'gift of grace,' not burden, speakers say

Msgr. Stephen Rossetti, a psychologist who has studied the priesthood, closed the symposium with the good news that a solid majority of priests embrace celibacy as a benefit to their priesthood

Bishops, priests, and theologians spoke at University of Notre Dame recently about the importance of celibacy in the priesthood. Plus its historical context. Ann Carey of Catholic News Service reports:

Priestly celibacy must be seen as "a freely accepted commitment and a gift of grace," not simply a functional discipline that frees a man for ministry, the keynote speaker at a University of Notre Dame symposium said Feb. 15.

Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher to the papal household, opened the Feb. 15-17 symposium with a call for a deeper understanding of celibacy based on biblical and theological roots.

Read the full story at The B.C. Catholic website.