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So, your excuse is simple incompetence?

An article worth reading. http://www.plaintec.net/Father/Mihaly.html


Those who do not remember their past are condemned to repeat their mistakes.Those who do not read history are doomed to repeat it.

^ Opps. I forgot the quote: (Please fix the edit function!)

"It took almost a year before the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Church responded in a condescending manner to the KOVO resolutions in a letter dated July 23, 1934. The basis for denying the ordination and immigration of married Eastern Rite priests is found in the following paragraph:
“This regulation (celibacy for American clergy) arose, not new, but anew from the peculiar conditions of the Ruthenian population in the United States of America. There it represents an immigrant element and a minority, and it could not therefore pretend to maintain there its own customs and traditions of Catholicism in the United States, and much less to have a clergy which could be a source of perplexity or scandal to the majority of American Catholics.”
It was difficult for most Greek Catholics to understand how being married and having a wife and children could be “a source of perplexity or scandal,” particularly when they always enjoyed the ministry of married priests for more than a millennium. If scandal can be defined as “sinful and grossly improper behavior that brings about disgrace and offends one’s moral sensibilities,” what was “sinful” about Greek Catholic priests being married? "

An article worth reading

Not really... it engages in pretty blatant ad hominem argument.

If scandal can be defined as “sinful and grossly improper behavior that brings about disgrace and offends one’s moral sensibilities,” what was “sinful” about Greek Catholic priests being married? "

Except that's not how scandal is defined in Roman Catholic moral theology. The kind of scandal being referred to is the kind mentioned in point three here [newadvent.org]:

(3) To prevent another's sin one may even be bound to forego an act which is sinful neither in itself nor in appearance, but which is nevertheless the occasion of sin to another, unless there be sufficient reason to act otherwise.

Of course, it can be argued that the refusal to permit Eastern Catholics to follow their traditions fully (including the ordination of married men to the priesthood) is a source of scandal to Eastern Catholics, as well as to the Eastern Orthodox, whom we hope will enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.

^ I suspect that a present day Byzantine or Melkite Catholic might not be so dismissive of the premise of the article as it relates to the underlying issue, yet unresolved, as to what if any immutable rights Eastern Catholics possess outside of the ancestral homelands.

While superficial appearances may have changed since the days of Ireland, Toth, Takach and Chornock, there are times when I fear very little of any importance has changed at all.

Celibacy is a church dividing issue - not as celibacy "per se" - but as indicator of how the Church of Rome truly views the rites AND rights of sister Christian churches.

That, I fear, remains the issue.

Of course, it can be argued that the refusal to permit Eastern Catholics to follow their traditions fully (including the ordination of married men to the priesthood) is a source of scandal to Eastern Catholics, as well as to the Eastern Orthodox, whom we hope will enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.

Absolutely. I think it probably is and that it probably was also in the days of Toth, etc.

But the article linked is still crap that misunderstands the argument that was being made at the time.

I suspect that a present day Byzantine or Melkite Catholic might not be so dismissive of the premise of the article as it relates to the underlying issue, yet unresolved, as to what if any immutable rights Eastern Catholics possess outside of the ancestral homelands.

That question is important. The article is a terrible exploration of that question.

A big point that never gets raised in this discussion: If Latin Catholics are truly scandalized by married priests, it reflects a wrong and improper understanding of the priestly office. Accordingly, the solution to this problem of 'scandal' is not the imposition of celibacy on EC churches, but rather the catechesis of Latin Catholics.

(and) Indeed, the restoration of a married presbyterate in EC churches throughout the world would seem to provide a better opportunity for this catechesis.

Excellent point!

I would also like to comment on an early post. Criticizing the bishop who ordains two married men priests, because it was not publicized or done to our liking, does not help the cause of restoring our Tradition.

Please be so kind as to outline the basis for your claim that the cited article is "crap." Likewise the claimed ad hominems.

I should have noted that the comments about "housekeepers" were unnecessarily, but I can assure you that among the Greek Catholics of my grandparents' generation - late 19th, early 20th century- that claim had what we would today consider "urban legend" status.

The historical narrative is fairly accurate, at least from the KOVO point of view, including source materials cited. This narrative is consistent with Father Barrigers history of the ACROD, Good Victory, which itself is neither polemical nor particularly anti Catholic, given its authorship by an Orthodox priest.

The argument being made at the time was (and I am paraphrasing an actual document produced by Latin bishops at the time), "The rights of a few dissident Greeks is insignificant compared to the desirability of uniformity in discipline".

Don't do contortions trying to defend the indefensible.

This Vatican disconnect is absurd. Who could be scandalized by a Church (especially one with minority status)living out the traditions that Rome herself has lauded in many documents? Will they suppress the profuse use of incense because it makes many Americans cough? As a learned Jesuit is wont to say, "Who are they kidding?"

Happy to see my bishop do what is right. Axios! Axios! Axios!

I don't expect a big PR campaign, but hope that within the regular channels of communication, it is proudly represented.

Let us remember, actions are louder than words, and this is a welcome example of appropriate action by our church which often struggles to do so. A good sign.