Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea, whose forthcoming book reignited debates about priestly celibacy. (Wikimedia Commons)

by Ye Bin Won

The B-16 Bomb

Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea is releasing a controversial new book directly condemning Pope Francis for considering allowing priests to marry in certain parts of Latin America.

Complicating matters, the book named Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who stepped down in 2013, as the co-author. The book’s announcement instantly split the Catholic community, with believers finding themselves caught between the teachings of two popes. This is not normal.

Archbishop Georg Gänswein, Pope Benedict’s secretary, asserted that, while Benedict “knew that [Sarah] was preparing a book and had sent a brief text on the priesthood authorizing him to make whatever use he wanted of it,” the old Pope has neither read its contents nor authorized Sarah to list him as the co-author. Sarah has since complied and removed Benedict as a co-author.

(Un)holy Matrimony

Contrary to popular belief, celibacy ― the state of abstaining from marriage and sex ― is not actually required by doctrine in the Catholic Church; hence, it is not strictly required for priestly ordination. In fact, the Eastern-rite Roman Catholic Church (found mostly in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and parts of North Africa), fully affiliated with and recognized by the Vatican, allows for married priests. In the Latin Catholic Church, however, celibacy has long been a well-established norm.

The issue is a lightning rod for debate. Some, like Sarah, oppose any relaxation of the norms as a corrupting force. Others, like Pope Francis, argue that this move allows for Catholic priests to perform special sacraments (religious ceremonies) for Catholics in remote areas.

Old Storm, New Lighting

Nothing about this debate is new. However, the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazonian Region, held in Rome last October, convened bishops from Latin America to discuss the region’s most pressing problems, such as environmental destruction, the deleterious influence of “foreign economic interests” on local communities, and indigenous rights.

And, of course, priestly celibacy. As only priests can perform the Church’s central sacraments, such as the Eucharist and baptisms, the synod argued that the new rule would address the region’s “clergy shortage” in remote areas of the Amazon.

The electrifying proposal drew praise from liberals, who celebrated the “accommodating” recommendation, and criticism from conservatives, who worried that such initiatives will “dilute” tradition.

Is Christendom “Christian-Done?”

More than simply re-igniting the celibacy debate, the book exemplifies how torn Christianity has lately become, particularly over sexual politics.

From the 2016 Anglican-Episcopalian split to the United Methodist Church’s recent proposal to separate, the various denominations within global Christendom seem to be fracturing. Multiple issues divide congregations, but sexual politics may lie at the epicenter of these highly public splits: conflicting beliefs over gay marriage, ordination of LGBTQ individuals, women’s rights, and other LGBTQ-related issues (like conversion therapy and gender reassignment surgery) have cleaved liberals from conservatives.

And with Cardinal Sarah’s forthcoming book now listed as the most anticipated book in Amazon’s “clergy” genre (the online retailer, not the rainforest), it’s clear that this debate will not end soon. If Christian leaders, particularly Catholics, seek to sew together a fracturing congregation of believers, they must confront the chasm separating the moral systems of their liberals and conservatives. It may be hard to straddle both for much longer ― maybe some schisms are inevitable.