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| Apostle Paul |
Many might ask at this point: How can a Roman Catholic priest not only have two children, but also be married to a nun?
According to The Washington Post, Harm and Edeltraut Kleuting were married Lutheran clerics with two children (now adults) before converting to Roman Catholicism. After this conversion, Edeltraut allegedly became a Carmelite nun in 2004 (which is highly unusual since Carmelite nuns generally lead cloistered lives – questions have therefore arisen as to whether this married couple is still living together).
Harm was ordained into the Roman Catholic priesthood on February 22, 2011 by Archbishop Joachim Cardinal Meisner of the Cologne Diocese. Kleuting has also been given special permission by Pope Benedict XVI to remain married. On Faith reports: “In 1950, Pope Pius XII first allowed clergymen who had converted to Catholicism to remain married…” According to the Cologne Diocese, other married priests have previously been ordained in Regensburg and Hamburg.
The need for celibacy of the priesthood has long been challenged within and beyond Roman Catholic circles.
However, the Catholic Encyclopedia asserts that – even though compulsory celibacy is not specifically called for by the New Testament – there are plenty of allusions to the glory of spiritually-oriented celibacy. Matthew 19:12 is cited, wherein Jesus commends those “which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake.” 1 Corinthians 7:8 is also cited, wherein Paul refers to his own unmarried state quite favorably, while adding that “it is good for” others to also remain unmarried.
Resources
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/22/AR2011022201576.html
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03481a.htm
Copyright February 24, 2011 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
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