I don't understand why Catholic Church authorities still
hang onto the requirement of celibacy as a precondition
for ordination.

Nowadays the requirements of celibacy is seen for what it is:
a requirement of church law that could be changed.

But despite the massive shortage of priests - the Church refuses
to change this requirement.

So while it is clear to the vast majority of sensible Catholics
that the Church must change its policy on celibacy, Church
authorities still resist the patently obvious.

Why?

Your thoughts please.

Good question Foxy, growing up it was thought this Church was the holiest one, but recent dreadful revelations prove that wrong, surely sex is a basic for humans and putting groups together that do not think so has in part put the wrong people in that Church?

Foxy,

I think that the requirement for celibacy for priests is a throwback to the church's roots where papal decrees are deemed to be the word of god and cannot be challenged. Changing something as fundamental as this would be tantamount to admitting that they were wrong for centuries.

Personally, I believe that this has been the Achilles heel of the Church, and has excluded many devoted and competent (straight) men with predictable results.

I also doubt that this will change anytime soon.

Dear Belly and Shadow Minister,

I'm not a theologian - but I'm rather sure that celibacy
is a church law that could be changed today. The shortage
of clergy - and the creation of a much bigger pool of
candidates for the episcopate - could be solved today.
Is there a theological or doctrinal reason why the Church
cannot ordain suitably qualified married men? Frankly I
don't know. I tend to think this is merely a church law
that could be changed. If some countries want to maintain
celibacy - well, that's their business. But I feel that
for some countries to have married clergy would do no
harm to the universal Church.

Foxy,

I never claimed that the canon law can't be changed. I believe not only that it can, but it should be changed. However, I believe that for the reasons I have given above, that it won't.

The Catholic Church stands now at the brink of its death, it is my view it must change this law, right now my view swill hurt but this Pope, in my honest view, should face the same charges his Australian servant has just been found guilty of, without massive change this Church is dead.