The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-03-10
No Part of the Doctrine of the
Catholic Church.
ENTIRELY A MATTER OF DISCIPLINE
Is the Brightest Jewel in the
Crown of Virtue.

Some weeks ago the Christian world
was startled by the announcement that
the reigning pontiff, Pope Leo Kill,
had dispensed the Catholic priests
throughout South America from the
law of celibacy, and that he would fol-
low this decree at the proper time by
permitting all priests throughout the
world to marry, says Monsignor Sc
'bastian Martinelli, Papal delegate to
the United States, in Harper's 8azar
Of Feb. "a. A long-cherished project
of our Holy Father-the reunion of
the Christian churches-was used to
give this statement semblance of
truth. In the entire Christian world
only the Catholic church requires the
tselibate life of the clergy, so fervently
advocated by Christ and those to whom
He delegated the power of teaching
His word. There were those who
feigned to believe that, so anxious is
Pope Leo to regraft all the sects upon
the parent stem, he would be willing to
surrender one of the cherished tradi-
shioas of church discipline.
Celib.cy has been an immemorial Gus
ton of the priests and bishops of the
Catholic church, dating back to the
time of the Apostles. Taking the
words of our Divine Lord, "There are
/ T esnuchs who have made themselves
: eunuchs for the kingdom of heavens
sake. He that can receive it let him
receive it," the church has enforced
eelibacy on her ministers. There has
never been a time when she did not
command in unmistakable terms that
those who desired to become shepherds
Of the flock should deny the flesh and
give themselves up to the higher life
Of self-abnegation and sacrifice. There
have been times when, owing to the
hardness of heart and the perversity OF
human nature, she has been obliged to
' tolerate the marriage of portions Of her
priesthood in certain countries and un-
der certain conditions: but she has al
ways done this unwillingly. and for the
, sole reason that it would prevent great
er evils. The life of chastity led by
the great Teacher of Mankind was the
life which the church ordained from the
beginning as suitable one for her
pastors. The earliest successors of St.
Peter recommended the example Of
John the Beloved Disciple, who so
closely resemb1ed his Master. OF the
twelve whom Christ called, only Peter
A. as married man. Tradition tells us
q Lat, Notwithstanding, St. Peter fol-
flowed the higher life There have been
bu. few pontiffs who have not legislated
upon this subject The most recent and
important utterancc was made by Plus
TX. at the time of the Vatican Council,
when he stated in unmistakable terms
that the ce1ibate rule had always been
commanded by the Holy Roman Ca
tholic church from the beginning. The
early church fathers record many in
stances of supreme law on the subject,
and testify that it was universally COM
manded and taught, if not always uni
versa1ly obeyed
The great monk FIildebrand, who
.reigned from A. D. 1913 to 1885, under
the title of Gregory VII, has the honor
of determining this important issue, and
formally embodying it in the discipline
of the church. In decreeing the cell
bacy Of the clergy he established no
innovation. He merely applied the logic
of Christian philosophy to remedy the
evils, both spiritual and temporal, which
were creeping into the church. Catho-
lie theologians hold that the spiritual
life of the clergy is the strong rock
which buttresses the edifice St. Peter
as the vicar of Christ, imperishably
founded on Gods own covenant. When
the priests become corrupt and forget
their high calling, radical methods must
be employed, for if the shepherds go
astray, what dangers must threaten the
flock!
1t was this condition which faced that
giant OF piety and strength, Hildebrand,
when he ascended the papal throne.
Tradition says that. like the great Re-
deemer of Mankind, his father was a
carpenter. and that he spent his early
wears following that lowly avocation.
Yet this was the man who brought the
naughty Emperor of Germany, Henry
w., to Canossa to do penance publicly