Here is a shocker though it could be worse. At least, this priest is taking the honest step. The shocker is in who he was!
The German theologian who
can no longer be celibate
Translated from
Oct. 3, 2009
In today's issue of Il Giornale, I report on the news disclosed yesterday by the Dioceses of Mainz and Cologne and reported in tHE German press.
The theologian Michael Schulz, 49, dean of the faculty of Catholic theologiy in Bonn and professor of dogmatic theology, recently named by the Pope to be a member of the Itnernational Theological Commission (under the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith), is leaving the priesthood to get married.
The news provoked surprise more in the Vatican than in Germany, where the professor is rather famous.
Schulz was considered an important theologian who was, above all, very faithful to Rome. He was a student of teh Bishop of Regensburg, Gerhard Mueller, who is very close to the Pope and is a likely candidate to eventually head a Curial dicastery.
The communique was released by the Diocese of Mainz, under Cardinal Karl Kehmann, because Schulz belongs to the diocese. Schulz explained very simply that he can no longer maintain priestly celibacy and so he has decided to leave the priesthood.
That is not so bad as the case of the Canadian bishop who has been relieved after a scandalous arrest for child pornography:
Canadian bishop charged
with importing child porn
WCR NEWS SOURCES
ANTIGONISH, Nova Scotia, Oct. 3 - Bishop Raymond Lahey, 69, one of Atlantic Canada's most prominent bishops, has been charged with possessing and importing child pornography.
Lahey, a bishop for 23 years, resigned as bishop of Antigonish saying he needed time for "personal renewal." Pope Benedict accepted that resignation Sept. 26.
Then, four days later, CBC News reported that Lahey is facing child pornography charges after he was arrested at the Ottawa Airport Sept. 15.
According to the CBC, he was arrested after members of the Canada Border Services Agency performed a random check of his laptop computer.
Lahey, 69, served as bishop of St. George's, Nfld., from 1986 to 2003 when he was appointed to Antigonish.
In early August, he committed the diocese to a landmark $13 million settlement to compensate victims of sexual abuse by priests in the diocese that includes northeastern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island.
Lahey has served on the permanent council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and in 2001 was a CCCB delegate to the World Synod of Bishops that focused on The Bishop as Witness of Hope in Today's World.
He was also a delegate to the 1997 Synod of Bishops for the Americas where he maintained that the Church must keep open its dialogue with all areas of society.
A native of St. John's Nfld., Lahey studied canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and took post-doctoral studies in Church history at Cambridge University.
A spokesperson for the CCCB told Canwest News Service Sept. 30 that the conference had just learned of the charges facing Lahey.
A letter from Lahey addressed to priests, deacons, religious and parishioners, was posted on the Diocese of Antigonish's website Sept. 27 before news of the criminal charges became public.
"I want to let you know that after much thought and careful consideration, I decided to submit to the holy father my resignation as bishop for personal reasons," Lahey wrote.
"To so many of you I would want to say a personal word of farewell and thanks. However, I have already left the diocese to take some much-needed time for personal renewal. I simply ask for your prayers, as I assure you of my continued prayers for all of you."
Halifax Archbishop Anthony Mancini, also adminstrator of the Yarmouth Diocese, has been appointed apostolic administrator of Antigonish.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 13/02/2010 17:17]