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American Morning

Priest's Celibacy Is Not as Old as Church Itself

Aired April 24, 2002 - 09:49   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: The Catholic church, as you know, is dealing with a major crisis of its own right now. American cardinals holding a private lunch with Pope John Paul II today after holding more meetings in the Vatican this morning to discuss the sex abuse scandal in the church. At the top of their agenda, is figuring out exactly how to handle predatory priests and restore the faith of Catholics. But some critics wish the church would address a bigger issue, one they say is at the heart of the crisis.

Here's CNN's Garrick Utley.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARRICK UTLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Of all the vows a priest takes, is any more difficult, more contrary to human nature than celibacy?

(on camera): The debate over celibacy goes back to the earliest Christian writings. For example, in Timothy chapter 3, St. Paul says, "a bishop must be above reproach. The husband of one wife. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way, for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for God's church?"

(voice-over): St. Paul did not marry, but St. Peter did. By the Middle Ages, priests, bishops, and 39 popes had married.

JOHN O'MALLEY, REVEREND, NEW YORK: And, also, a lot of priests living -- as a set in concubinage, living openly with women to whom they weren't married, but by whom they had children.

UTLEY: Pope Gregory VII saw that as one of many scandals in practices in the church, and pushed his reforms to stop it. But when celibacy was made mandatory in the year 1139, one bishop warned "when celibacy is imposed, priests will commit sins far worse than fornication."

(on camera): For the fact is, celibacy is not part of church dogma, rather it is a policy, a rule, that has been applied for the most recent half of the church's existence, and of course what church leaders made, they can also unmake. If they want to.

(voice-over): But although the times have changed, church leaders, including the pope, have made it clear celibacy is not about to.

Garrick Utley, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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