"The Christianity of history is not Protestantism. If ever there were a safe truth it is this, and Protestantism has ever felt it so; to be deep in history is to cease to be a Protestant." (-John Henry Newman, An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine).

"Where the bishop is, there let the people gather; just as where ever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church". -St. Ignatius of Antioch (ca 110 AD)a martyr later thrown to the lions, wrote to a church in Asia Minor. Antioch was also where the term "Christian" was first used.

“But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15

"This is the sole Church of Christ, which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic." -CCC 811

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Ukrainian Catholic Leader: Married Priesthood Not Cause Of Vocation Boom

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav (Photo Source: interfax)
Ukraine, EWTN - Less than a week after his enthronement as head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk said that the ordination of married men to the priesthood has not been the major contributing factor to the numerous young vocations in his Eastern Catholic church. The average age of a Ukrainian Catholic priest is 35.

In our tradition, we do have a married clergy, but a married clergy is not the main reason we have so many young priests, he said, noting that religious orders, which require a vow of consecrated chastity, also have numerous young vocations. The possibility of being a married priest is not the main cause of an increase or decrease in vocations to the priesthood because this vocation comes from God.


Days after he announced that he would ask Pope Benedict to raise the Eastern Catholic church to the dignity of a patriarchate, he added that of course, our church is growing, is developing its structures ... but we are conscious that the decision about the patriarchate belongs to the Holy Father and we would never press him. We respect his freedom.

The No. 1 priority for each head of a church is evangelization, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ in today's world.

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