Is it reasonable . . . to derive sexual guidelines only from the more limited experiences of males committed to lifetime celibacy?
Should final decisions regarding sexual morality for all persons be filtered only through such a single mindset and then imposed dictatorially on all members -- men and women, married and single, homosexuals at all androgynal points on the spectrum?
It borders on the ridiculous to disallow contributions that the very people possessing the requisite wisdom born of experience can bring to the discussions.
. . . It is apparent that the hierarchy has usurped the entire teaching office -- the “magisterium” -- for themselves; yet they are only one of three components endowed with this charism. Theologians and the wisdom born of experience in the “sense of the faithful” comprise the other two. It would seem, then, that appropriate exercise of their distinctive roles requires that bishops collaborate rather than compete.
- Regina Schulte
"On Sexuality, the Hierarchy Has Usurped the Entire Teaching Office"
National Catholic Reporter
October 15, 2010
"On Sexuality, the Hierarchy Has Usurped the Entire Teaching Office"
National Catholic Reporter
October 15, 2010
"From the more limited experiences of men committed to lifetime celibacy." It would be interesting to know how the sexual experiences of Church leaders figure into their teachings on human sexuality. Since many of these leaders were and in some cases are sexually active, their views may be influenced by that. From what I have read the number of clergy living lives of chaste purity is quite low. They seem to have their own version of "Don't ask, don't tell."
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