A commentary published in the Providence Journal on Friday, August 16, 2019 titled, “The Catholic Church Needs to Face Up to Human Nature,” by Dr. Joelle Rollo-Koster, critiques the practice of priestly celibacy. The author makes an oft repeated argument: Celibacy is the cause of the sexual abuse, hence celibacy should be abandoned.
As her title indicates, she makes this argument based on a certain conception of human nature. She writes, “the Church needs to face human nature and stop ignoring it.” Her critique, however, ignores the transformative effect of grace on human nature. Without grace celibacy would be difficult if not impossible except for a very few. Yet, as Jesus Christ teaches, human nature through the power of grace is capable of amazing acts. Under the guise of a critique on celibacy, is an age-old attack on the power of grace to transform human nature, and the ability of human nature to reach the heights of sanctity. This critique impacts all aspects of life, not just celibacy. This conception of human nature may also be used as an attack on the permanence of marriage, which amounts to saying: “Human nature is weak, we should not expect people to marry for life or exclusively to another person.”
Providentially, the Gospel for the day of Dr. Rollo-Koster’s commentary was taken from Matthew 19:3-12, in which Jesus tells us about marriage and celibacy. “Not all can accept this word, but whoever can accept this ought to accept it.” Our Lord is fully aware that the demands involved in His teaching on marriage and His recommendation of celibacy practiced out of love of God run counter to the temptation of selfishness inherit in human nature. But this selfishness does not get the last word; sin does not get the final say in how we live our lives. That is why He says that acceptance of this teaching is a gift from God.
There will always be those who devalue the capabilities of human nature elevated by grace. There will always be those who want to abandon celibacy. Father Carter Griffin, rector of St. John Paul II seminary remind us: “Celibacy is an existential threat to the sexual ideology of our time. It is a reminder that true love is found not primarily in sexual activity but in the life of charity which unites us to God and to one another.”
As Pope St. Paul VI wrote in 1967, “Priestly celibacy has been guarded by the Church for centuries as a brilliant jewel, and retains its value undiminished even in our time when the outlook of men and the state of the world have undergone such profound changes.” The problem is not celibacy or the church’s conception of human nature. Rather, the problem is that priests and people need to follow the teachings of Christ and so be transformed by grace. With the strength of grace and fidelity to Christ, celibacy is possible; marital fidelity for life is possible. As Christ tells us: “Behold I make all things new.”
Father Joshua A. Barrow serves as Assistant Pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Parish, East Greenwich.
