Pope says celibacy still important for priests

Pope Benedict XVI on Friday reiterated his belief that celibacy for Roman Catholic priests is still essential, despite some senior members of his church suggesting that it is a contributing factor in the sexual abuse of children.

AFP reports that the Pope was speaking at a theological convention in Vatican City, prior to a meeting with the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in his native Germany. That meeting with the head of the German Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, discussed the manner in which the Catholic Church is addressing the growing reports of sexual abuse of children by priests in Germany. Even the Pope's own brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, has found himself caught up in the scandal, although he is not accused of sexual abuse or of being aware of it. His involvement consists of an admission that he slapped pupils in the face when he worked at a Catholic school and seemingly chose to ignore allegations of more serious physical abuse against other priests/school staff. But the day after two Austrian Archbishops questioned the need for priests to refrain from marriage and sexual relations, suggesting that the requirement for celibacy may be playing a part in the sexual abuse of children by priests, Pope Benedict XVI reportedly spoke of remaining celibate being "the sign of full devotion" and an indication of a priest's "entire commitment to the Lord". He added:

The value of sacred celibacy, which in the Latin Church is ... required for ordination (of priests), is held in great regard by Eastern Churches

The current Pope, who became the head of the worldwide Catholic Church in 2005, has defended celibacy for the priesthood on previous occasions. And not always when abuse allegations are in the news. He has addressed the issue in the context of a shortage of priests to serve his church, saying on one such occasion in 2005:

The celibacy that priests have received as a precious gift and the sign of undivided love toward God and neighbor is founded on the eucharistic mystery, celebrated and adored

Furthermore his predecessor Pope John Paul II, Pontiff for over 26 years before his death in 2005, was also an advocate for celibacy. The New York Times reported in 2003 on how Pope John Paul II, when addressing what he called the "scandalous behavior'' of priests in the U.S., and elsewhere, who had sexually abused children, declared:

celibacy is to be regarded as an integral part of the priest's exterior and interior life

There are fears among some that the true level of sexual abuse by priests, which AFP confirms the Pope has condemned as a "heinous crime" and a "grave sin" - in addition he has committed to removing abusers from both their positions as priests and the Church - may be unknown. Writing on Open Salon in December Haitian-born human rights lawyer and activist Ezili Danto noted, after it had emerged that 36,000 children in Ireland had been raped by Catholic priests over a period of 60 years:

If this level of sexual abuse is possible in Catholic Ireland or even in the United States, imagine what totally unregulated, ex-patriot Catholic priests have been doing in Haiti and Africa for centuries!