The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1917-01-11
''THE PRIESTS: SHOULD THEY MARRY OR
NOT?"
The Sensible Opinion of a Priest.


1.-THE above is the title of one of a series of
articles that appeared in evening paper IN
RE de Janeiro last year. Coming from priest
in the ranks, it has more than ordinary value in
revealing the conditions that obtain in Brazil
Charles A. Long
1t is social and moralizing discussion that the
Rua has opened in regard to the mOmentOus sub
ject of clerical celibacy, which, I may say at once
has actually and only served to de1nOraIize the
clergy and discredit religion. I am not looking
at the question from the medical or hygienic
point of view, but from the. social, moral, and
religious side.
1 admit that clerical celibacy has had it's day.
but that day has passed and will not return.
Then the religious, social, and moral condition
of the world was different from that of today
One does not require profound reasoning to dis
cover this. mere glance at the past confront
ing 1t with the present, is sufficient. certain
that when the celbacy of priests declared
there were advantages in it, and it's observance
was possible to greater or less extent. This is
not true today.
Some said in these columns Ct think it was
Senior Evarsto Moraes) that about twenty per cent
of the secular clergy observe the vow of celibacy
But l. with better data than he am able to go
much farther, saying that not five per cent of the
clergy observe it in all it's fuIlness. I do not
make any distinction between the secular and the
religious clergy. If the latter seem to be
vrtuous than the former, it is because they hide
in the depths of the converts their faults and
weaknesses.
priest cannot be married officially; but if
either openly or in secret, is not the law Of
celibacy thus already abrogated or annuled?
The evils caused to society and to the church
itself by celibacy Of the priests incalcuIabIe
The secular clergy itself cannot estimate them
Only the priests themselves. VI, the religious
know them in scrutnzing the consciences of those
who frequently open their hearts to them, but are
able to give such souls comfort whatever be-
their own consciences disturbed, af-
f1icted, and black
1t is because of this that modern society, and
principally the heads of families, always look
upon and receive the priests with suspicion when
they do not do it with sCOrn and dsdain. And
who can blame them for it? Do there not appear
constantly aStOnishingly large number of
scandals in which priests, victims of the anaCh-
ronOus celibacy are involved?
There is not single priest who would defend
celibacy from conviction. When they do it, it is
to please the bishop or the Daughters of Mary.
Seek out the most ardent defender of celibacy.
Dissect his life carefully, and you will find that he
too is a "worshiper" of the counsel Of st. Paul,
esse cautus. And it is exactly those who often
have their souls in condition than the
hypocrisy with which they hide themselves from
profane eyes If the walls of the sacristies of the
Matrices (the mother church of each city viii
lage) and of the cOnsistOries of the churches
should speak!
There have been many assertions from the
ranks of the clergy on the part of intelligent, dis