Freeing Celibacy (Hardcover)

~ Donald Cozzens (Author) "Mys-tique, n. an aura of heightened value or interest or meaning surrounding a person or thing..." (more)
Key Phrases: charismatic celibacy, mandated celibacy, obligatory celibacy, John Paul, Catholic Church, The Changing Face of the Priesthood (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Priest and writer Cozzens calmly explains the celibacy Roman Catholic priests have been obliged to assume since the late eleventh century. Making celibacy mandatory, he argues, grates on the established concept of celibacy as a charism, or freely bestowed gift of the Holy Spirit; indeed, the practice seems to promise, ever so presumptuously, that ordination entails the charism. Many priests testify that it doesn't, and many consequently suffer great anguish, regardless of whether they break their vows (by and large, they don't). That celibacy is necessary for priesthood is contradicted within the church today, Cozzens notes, by the hundreds of married former Protestant clergy who converted to Catholicism and are serving as priests and by the priests of Eastern rite churches in communion with Rome, which have always allowed marriage before ordination. Better for all, Cozzens says, to dispense with prescribed celibacy while continuing to pray for the charism. Much more effectively than other, more famous critics of priestly celibacy, Cozzens teaches as well as advocates. Ray Olson
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Review

"This reading regards silence and passivity as no longer acceptable for lay Catholics who want to actively participate with and in the church. . . . After reading this highly insightful and fearless author, my question stands: Do we stay `exiled' from our own faith, or do we have a `faith that dares to speak'?" -- Ministry & Liturgy

'Freeing Celibacy' - what a marvelous double entendre! With wisdom, compassions, and passion Cozzens argues that celibacy for the diocesan clergy is freeing an experience of freedom and joy only if the church frees it from legalism, fear of sexuality, and lust for power, that is, only if we have the courage to let it be what it essentially is a gift/charism from God. This book must be meditated upon by every bishop, priest, candidate to the priesthood, and by anyone concerned about the future of the Roman Catholic Church. --Dr. Peter C. Phan, Theology Department, Georgetown University, Washington, DC

Can we continue to impose celibacy as a law on diocesan clergy, many of whom do not have the charism? Cozzens mounts historical, theological, and pastoral reasons why the mandate should end. -- Kathleen A. Cahalan, Associate Professor, Saint John's University School of Theology and Seminary

Combining history, theology, pastoral experience and sincere love for the church, Freeing Celibacy is a courageous, forward-looking book that invites reflection and discussion on the role of celibacy in the life of the church. -- William H. Shannon, Nazareth College, Rochester, New York

Freeing Celibacy is one of the clearest and most straightforward examinations of the role of obligatory celibacy in the Roman Catholic priesthood and in the life of the Church. In his characteristically low-key, even gentle fashion, Father Cozzens effectively challenges each of the traditional defenses that have been mounted in support of the discipline. The book, in effect, points its finger at a massive elephant in the Church s living room that many still pretend not to see. --Rev. Richard P. McBrien, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana

In his characteristically low-key, even gentle fashion, Father Cozzens effectively challenges each of the traditional defenses that have been mounted in support of the discipline. -- Rev. Richard P. McBrien, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana

Pastoral bishops arguing for a reconsideration of the present insistence that Roman Rite priests be celibates, will be both helped and heartened by Donald Cozzens admirable review of the ecclesial and pastoral value of mandatory celibacy." -- Cardinal Thomas Williams, Archbishop of Wellington, New Zealand

This reading regards silence and passivity as no longer acceptable for lay Catholics who want to actively participate with and in the church. . . . After reading this highly insightful and fearless author, my question stands: Do we stay `exiled' from our own faith, or do we have a `faith that dares to speak'? --Ministry and Liturgy

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Liturgical Press (September 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814631606
• ISBN-13: 978-0814631607
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #533,216 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Case for Optional Priestly Celibacy, October 8, 2006

By	Carol Blank (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Throughout this work on the history and theology of mandated celibacy for Latin rite Catholic priests, Cozzens defines celibacy as a charism, that is a gift from God. This gift, he explains, is not automatically bestowed on men upon entering the seminary or receiving the sacrament of Holy Orders. Faithful response to the charism of celibacy is one of the church's great treasures, he writes, but "when celibacy is imposed and legislated it can undermine the integrity of the church's leadership and cause needless human suffering."

In nine clearly written chapters Cozzens, a psychologist and priest, looks at celibacy as charism, obligation, power, and oppression. In a chapter on exceptions to the church's mandate, he addresses several problematic situations. First, there are married Latin rite Catholic priests today. Typically they were ordained in another denomination and converted, often with their wives and children, to Catholicism, where they were, after some seminary study, ordained as priests. In addition the Church affords optional celibacy to some Catholic seminarians preparing for the priesthood in non-Latin rites in Eastern Euro-Asia, so long as they marry before their ordination. Further, Eastern churches in full communion with Rome have long permitted married clergy.

Calling for a serious review of mandated celibacy, Cozens writes, "Celibacy's troubles should not surprise. We compound these troubles, however, when we attempt to legislate that which is a free, mysterious gift given to relatively few human souls."

This is an excellent resource for Catholics and others who wish to increase their understanding of the complex issues related to Church law on priestly celibacy and Cozzens' views on homosexuality in seminaries and sexual abuse perpetrated by clergy.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thoughtful and deeply spiritual treatise, February 3, 2007

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Priest, lecturer, and award-winning author Donald Cozzens presents Freeing Celibacy, a serious-minded look at the practice of mandatory celibacy for Latin rite Catholic priests that has been the norm for 900 years. Though Freeing Celibacy extols the gifts of the spirit that voluntary celibacy can bring, Cozzens surveys the history of married priests in centuries past, clergy sexual abuse scandals and the rapidly declining number of priests today, and concludes that it is time to set celibacy free from canonical mandate to become a graced way of life for some but not all of the church's ordained ministers. A thoughtful and deeply spiritual treatise, expressing sincere concern for the future of Catholicism itself. "Just as it is possible for a slave to know more true inner freedom than his master, it is possible for a priest to thrive spiritually and personally in the condition of mandated celibacy. But this does not justify the institution of celibacy any more than a personally liberated slave justifies the institution of slavery."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A reasoned request for optional celibacy, September 13, 2008

By	James E. Harvey "Author, Cops, Crooks & Clergy" (Rockaway Beach, OR USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Cops, Crooks, and Clergy: A Long Journey to Inside the Catholic Church

Donald Cozzens' well-researched and rational approach to identifying and correcting one of the most serious causes of today's priest shortage is an important plea to Church leaders. While celibacy may be a charism for some, not all priests have that gift. He establishes that a charism is a gift, and that people all have different gifts. Further, that a gift cannot be mandated by the hierarchy, as it comes from God. In just over 100 pages, Cozzens clearly makes his case.