Why Celibacy?: Reclaiming the Fatherhood of the Priest

by Carter Griffin, Scott Hahn (Foreword)

"La Iglesia hoy en día exige una renovación profunda del sacerdocio célibe y de su paternidad a la cual está orientada." Algunos dicen que el celibato sacerdotal es una reliquia anticuada de otra época. Otros lo ven como una vida solitaria. Pero como lo expone el P. Carter Griffin en ¿Por qué el celibato?: Reclamando la paternidad del sacerdote, esta antigua práctica del celibato, cuando se vive bien, le ayuda al sacerdote a ejercer su paternidad espiritual con alegría y con muchos frutos. A lo largo de su exposición, el P. Griffin En este momento crítico para el sacerdocio católico, el P. Griffin ofrece luz y esperanza con una nueva perspectiva de la sabiduría perene de la Iglesia en torno al celibato. El padre Carter Griffin es un sacerdote de la Arquidiócesis de Washington. En el 2011 terminó su doctorado en teología sagrada con su tesis doctoral titulada "La paternidad sobrenatural por medio del celibato la realización de la masculinidad." Desde el 2011 se ha dedicado a la formación de seminaristas en el Seminario de San Juan Pablo II en Washington, D.C. El padre Griffin se recibió de la Universidad de Princeton y fue un oficial en la Armada de los Estados Unidos.

Genres: Theology, Catholic, Spirituality

215 pages, Hardcover

Published July 8, 2019

Reviews

[Diego Estrada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Celibacy is a gift, there’s no other option. It can’t be white-knuckled… I pray that I can receive it. The beginning of the book it’s very systematic and informational… then it gets really awesome! Insane the amount of footnotes and authors he recommends.

Gente casa, también léalo para ver cómo el celibato bendice tu vocación y tu bendices a las personas célibes.

[Dcn. Benj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why Celibacy is a noble effort at a topic much in need of discussion and development, and I am grateful for Fr. Griffin’s undertaking it. It’s a solid work with many helpful insights to think about. Nevertheless, this popular abridged version of a much larger academic thesis misses the mark of being either an academic work or spiritual one. It is likely best described as a cataloguing of various orthodox thoughts on the matter of priestly celibacy. Simple and effective but not particularly ponderous or profound.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found especially the first two chapters to be interesting. The theological discussion of what "fatherhood" is (in chapter 1) was the most interesting part of the book for me. I also found his perspectives on the challenges of priesthood and common pitfalls (in chapter 2) to be interesting, especially from his point of view as a priest himself, and this included some things I hadn't thought of.

I generally found his arguments compelling, although he does seem to have a tendency to push his arguments to an extreme that they reach a point of absurdity. For example, when comparing the priesthood to "natural" fatherhood, he comes to the ultimate conclusion that priests are actually "more a father than a natural father" (pp. 36), or the similar claim that celibate priests are "more a man" than married men (pp. 66), both of which I found a bit absurd. He also seems to suggest that for a priest, having a "spiritual child" walk away from the faith is comparable to "the torment of the death of a child" (pp. 44), which was a point that I found a bit extreme and perhaps in poor taste.

One critique that I have for this book is that the author repeatedly refers to "celibacy" apparently more broadly, but then once he starts talking specifics it is very clear that he is only talking about a much more narrow view of celibacy, particularly how it applies specifically to a diocesan priest. I feel that his central claim (that the aim of celibacy is to prepare priests to be spiritual fathers) may make sense for a diocesan priest but maybe not so much for those called to celibacy in areas of the religious life (or even in the laity) who are not called to be a "spiritual father" in the same way that a diocesan priest may be. If spiritual fatherhood is the aim of celibacy, then what is the aim of celibacy for those individuals who are not called to be spiritual fathers in the way he is describing? I found myself asking myself this question throughout the book.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

The good: chapter 1 was great on surveying spiritual fatherhood. Chapter 3 & 4 were good, with some highs and lows, but chapter 1 was the highlight of the book.

The bad: Chapter 2 was possibly the worst (with the exception of his notes on clericalism and narcissism which were solid) selection of pages I’ve read in a while. It was one sided, lacked context, lacked intellectual thoroughness, and was laden with straw man arguments. Celibacy certainly gives spiritual fatherhood particular definition, but the celibate priest is not a spiritual father solely because he’s celibate like the author dances around repeatedly. In the East all clerics and monastics are fathers and mothers. Celibacy is indeterminate of spiritual parenthood. A married deacon is called father, a celibate priest is father, etc etc. they are not polarized, they are complimentary and are expressed in different ways and not in competition with each other. However in this book, the author attaches spiritual fatherhood to celibacy almost exclusively. Not right away, but as his narrative develops it’s pretty clear.

The ugly: if the author has to implicitly denigrate the married priesthood as an “exception” in the priesthood, and as second tier, in order to add to his building up of the greatness of celibacy, then it just might not be worth continuing to read.

Conclusion: it’s very one sided and not balanced. It could have been really good, but it wasn’t after chapter 1.

[Fr. Ambrose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fr. Griffin gives a good look at some of the reasons why priestly celibacy needs to be maintained. He explains things well, and his arguments make a lot of sense. However, I found the book had two major shortcomings that prevented it from really speaking to me. First, he said a lot of theologically profound things, but it never really came together in a way that was spiritually moving. I found myself agreeing with a lot, but not really being convicted or moved. Second, his location of the central principle of celibacy in spiritual fatherhood and generativity is a stretch. There is certainly a place in the tradition for that kind of language, but it has never been considered the central principle of celibacy. As a result, the reaching to make a point becomes very evident at some points.

Overall a good book, and a good reminder of some important aspects of celibacy, but ultimately it falls short of what it aims to do.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chapter 3 - Selection and Formation
Chapter 4 - Further Benefits of Celibacy

A good candidate for a priest must be a good candidate for a husband and father.

Celibacy honors the institution of marriage. If marriage were not cherished, where is the value of celibacy?

?The choice is not whetted a priest should be a father. The choice is what kind of father he will be. ?. - Conclusion

[Dominic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every seminarian, priest, and lay person should read this book. Full stop. The laity will gain a deeper understanding/appreciation of their priest’s role in the parish and will help many who have the misguided notion that the scandal in the Church was a result of an unmarried priesthood.

[Emmy]

This is one I'd like to try again later, but honestly, I get the impression--nonetheless since it was written in the introduction!--that this book is written for priests and seminarians, so while I'll undoubtedly get something out of it, I'm not the target audience.

[Matthew Purt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A crucial read for any Catholic man to better understand the broader vocation to fatherhood as well as the specific calling of fatherhood in the order of grace.

[Paul Swift · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple book with good insights. Unfortunately it’s not exactly gripping, so it took me a while to finish. Thanks for the rec Fr. Clay

[Paul Kurtz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book as a curious Protestant. While I remain unconvinced of the necessity of a celibate priesthood, this book did help me to better understand at least some of the reasoning for it. I even thought Fr. Griffin's arguments made the concept very appealing. That being said, I still don't believe there is scriptural warrant for requiring a celibate clergy.

[Joseph Tuttle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book on the spiritual paternity of the priest. This book discusses the role of celibacy in the priesthood, and shows how celibacy is a means for the priest to give himself totally to the Church, and to God's people.

[Edward B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Deeply Theological Difficult to Comprehend

The book opened my eyes to certain needs and requirements of priesthood. I’m convinced that priest should be celibate. It is a difficult book to read and cited far more scripture than needed.