I must be in some deep thinking with the Pope passing and us getting a new one.

Why is it that some Priests are really wanting some more Liberal happenings, such as, women becoming priests, priests being able to marry, contraception? Is the Anglican religion not a liberal type of Catholicism? And if so why would they not become anglican priests and settle there rather than become Catholic priests and try to change things?

Love your deep thinking Denise it causes me to really think to instead of just take some things for granted

I think one of the reasons for the idea of priests marrying or woman priests is the shortage of priests and people feel that would be an easy way to get more priests. I also think Catholics love the celebration of the Holy Eucharist as it is the central part of our masses, and we are the only church that celebrates it in this way. I also think there is a pressure to bring the church into the 21st century and into our crazy turned world

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Denise I have some answers for you but probably won't be able to get to them until tonight

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Originally Posted by CanadianMama I must be in some deep thinking with the Pope passing and us getting a new one.

First there are distinct differences between Episcopalians and Catholics. Holy Communion while a definitive part of their religion does not hold the same importance as it does to Catholics. I haven't found a lot about it but what I've found is that it is a "reenactment of the last supper" rather than having the real body and blood of Christ. In addition any one of any Christian religion can accept Communion in an Episcopal Church. So that is one basic difference that makes it difficult for Catholics to cross over.



As for the rest of it I'm going to answer from my progressive Catholic stance. I come from a very progressive Catholic family so I've had a lot of exposure to it and I'll do my best to explain it.



As far as married priests, do you know the history of priests in the Catholic Church? I'm not sure of the year it happened but married priests were allowed at one time. The reason that priests were not allowed to marry (I believe it was during some of the dark times in the Church where it was very corrupt) was that the Church wanted the inheritances of the priests going to the Church and not to families. At one time some priests had a lot of $$ and thus the church wanted that money. I believe the Church needs to go back and reexamine and prayerfully reflect upon this issue. In addition we have a serious shortage of priests and often times the diocese and specific priests are creating difficulties for the pastoral administrators at the churches without priests (I've seen this first hand and it almost made me walk away from the church, it's something I can explain at a later date if anyone wants to hear it). The Catholic Church is coming upon a crisis in terms of vocations. The new Pope will have to seriously reflect upon this issue and listen to the Holy Spirit. I will not claim to know how the Holy Spirit will guide the Church but if we are a flock without shepards then where does that leave us?



As for women priests that is a tough issue and I'm on the fence about that one as I can see the arguments on both sides. What I do have a problem with is the requirements for deacons ( I apologize if any of you have deacons in your family). I have an uncle who was a seminarian and before he took his vows he felt he was being called into married life thus he left the seminary and was a Pastoral Administrator along with many other jobs over the years. He felt he was being called to the deaconate but his wife (the HUGE liberal) had problems with having to take the classes with him but not being able to do anything. I agreed with her at the time and still do, I understand the why’s of women having to take the classes but I do feel that in a way it is hypocritical of the Church. I also disagree with the late John Paul II when he banned the dialogue about women priests. Our Pope is called to listen to the Holy Spirit and while we don’t know what his prayer life was like in regards to Women priests by banning the discussion I don’t think he was prayerfully reflecting upon all aspects of the issue. I see no reason to ban a discussion of something even if it will never come to fruition. With dialogue both sides may learn something.



I think in regards to contraception there needs to be discussion again. The Church is becoming a big influence in Africa and there is some serious problems in Africa with AIDS, honestly there needs to be discussion here (barrier not abortive type obviously).



I also think there needs to be a balance between the two sides of the Church. The push towards the more traditional during the JPII pushed aside the traditional religious orders, the Jesuits, Dominicans, and Franciscans They have been removed from the heart of the decision-making process, and their place has been taken by new orders and movements, with Opus Dei, the Legion of Christ, and other conservative religious organizations taking a leading role.



I answered this in the first person because this is something I’ve grown up with. I’m not a completely traditional Catholic and I’m not a Progressive Catholic on all counts, I’m traditional on some aspects and progressive on others. What I tried to do was give you some of the reasoning behind some of the arguments

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I also wanted to post a few things I've said at another site but I think they give an insight to my feelings and in lew of what I posted above that may make it make sense. These discussions were in regard to the direction we'd like the new papacy to go and were my responses to others. Being that I came off really liberal above I wanted to give my traditional side also.

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Oh and after all that I still didn't totally answer your question

Part of the reason they want to remain Catholic is the Eucharist. You cannot get that in any other Christian denomination. That is an essential belief, as is the traditions, interpretations, etc that are inherant to Catholocism.

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