ROME (ChurchMilitant.com) – Though Cdl. Robert Sarah maintains that “To oppose the pope is to be outside the Church,” he remains a thorn in the side of modernist Church ideologues. The Guinean prelate is also one of today’s most listened-to voices, both in Rome and across the world.

Cardinal Sarah’s most recent book From the Depths of Our Hearts — co-written with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and soon to be available in English — makes a historical case for a Catholic priesthood predicated on celibacy.

“There has been a lot of talk about completely ridiculous secondary aspects. Absurd controversies, vulgar lies and horrible humiliations have followed against Benedict XVI and myself,” said the prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, in a recent interview published in the Italian daily Il Foglio.

The central theme of the book is the Catholic priesthood, according to the cardinal, and responds to this question: Do we really believe that the ordination of married men would solve the crisis of vocations?

According to Sarah, “We cannot create a priesthood for married men without damaging the priesthood of Jesus Christ and His Bride, the Church.” He explains:

Priestly celibacy is not a simple canonical discipline. If the law of celibacy is weakened, even for a single region, it will open a breach, a wound in the mystery of the Church. There is an ontological-sacramental link between the priesthood and celibacy. This link reminds us that the Church is a mystery, a gift from God that does not belong to us.

Contrary to the views of the uninformed, the prelate says: “It is not a question of rejecting sexuality, but of affirming that the priest is the exclusive spouse of the Church, body and soul. He is entirely handed over to her, like Christ.”

“We are victims of profound historical ignorance on this subject,” he points out. “The Church was familiar with married priests in the early centuries. But after ordination they had to abstain from sexual relations with their wives,” adding, “This is a fact confirmed by the most recent historical research.”

The cardinal points to the Council of Elvira, convened in the early 300s in Spain, which recalled the law, “received from the apostles” about the continence of priests.

“The Church at that time was coming out of the era of the martyrs, [and] one of its first concerns was to affirm that priests should abstain from sex with their wives,” Sarah says.

“In fact, the Council states that ‘we have decreed a general prohibition for bishops, priests and deacons, i.e. all clerics constituted in the mystery. They must not be together with their wives and must not beget children. Whoever is responsible for this will be expelled from the ecclesiastical ranks’,” explained the cardinal.

He explained that Christians were already aware that a priest celebrating Mass — the renewal of Christ’s sacrifice for the world — must offer himself with all his body and soul. “He no longer belongs to himself. It was only much later, because of the corruption of the texts, that the East would evolve in its discipline, without ever giving up the link between priesthood and abstinence,” Sarah explained.

Sarah also argues that evangelization needs celibacy to bear fruit, calling on his experience as a priest in Africa to demonstrate this tenet:

People in the process of  becoming Christians must meet priests who have given their whole lives to Christ. I myself have had this experience. Would I be a priest today if a married man from my village in Guinea had been ordained? I don’t believe so. We need lay people who are, as Pope Francis says, “missionary disciples.” We need Christians who take baptism seriously.

“The Church needs the radicality of the gospel, not to align itself with the lukewarmness of the world,” he continues.

Sarah was appointed archbishop of Conakry in 1979 by Pope John Paul II, who called on him to work in the Roman Curia in 2001 and was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI. He was appointed prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments by Pope Francis in 2014.

The cardinal has authored a number of best-selling books that have been translated into English including God or Nothing (2015), The Power of Silence (2016) and The Day is Now Far Spent (2019).

In From the Depths of Our Hearts (2020), the authors proclaim the urgency of bishops, priests and laity to “let themselves be guided once more by faith as they look upon the Church and on priestly celibacy that protects her mystery.”

The cardinal says summarily that the “destruction of the priesthood” is being pursued, particularly by those who are calling for an end to the obligation for celibacy.

He has placed the blame at the feet of secularist forces, lamenting the influence of modernists in Europe and America: “They want us to say that the Church is open, welcoming, attentive and modern. But the Church is not made to listen, it is made to teach.”

“Let us read this book. Let us discuss it in peace and charity,” recommends the cardinal.

Read the source: https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/cdl-sarah-on-celibacy-attacks-enough-with-the-lies

Related Articles/ Videos click below:  

‘I’d Rather Give My Life than Change the Law on Celibacy,’ Pope Francis Citing Paul VI http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2020/01/13/id-rather-give-my-life-than-change-the-law-on-celibacy-pope-francis-citing-paul-vi/

Benedict XVI and Cardinal Sarah coauthor book on celibacy, opposing the ordination of married men http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2020/01/13/benedict-xvi-and-cardinal-sarah-coauthor-book-on-celibacy-opposing-the-ordination-of-married-men/

Ten Objections to Women Priests http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/12/01/ten-objections-to-women-priests/

The enduring value of celibacy: Referring to the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon – would allow priests to marry http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/10/30/the-enduring-value-of-celibacy-referring-to-the-synod-of-bishops-for-the-amazon-would-allow-priests-to-marry/

The Priest we need: A book to help priests who’ve had little guidance http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/10/14/the-priest-we-need-a-book-to-help-priests-whove-had-little-guidance/

Priesthood and Spiritual Childhood http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/09/15/priesthood-and-spiritual-childhood/

Life in Peloton: A Reflection on Cycling and Priestly Fraternity http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2020/01/19/life-in-peloton-a-reflection-on-cycling-and-priestly-fraternity/

During In Flight Presser, Pope Francis Says No to Married Latin-Rite Priests http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/01/28/during-in-flight-presser-pope-francis-says-no-to-married-latin-rite-priests/

Cardinal Gerhard Müller: No pope or council could permit female deacons, ‘it would be invalid’ http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/07/28/cardinal-gerhard-muller-no-pope-or-council-could-permit-female-deacons-it-would-be-invalid/

An Old Testament Justification for Priestly Celibacy http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/07/28/an-old-testament-justification-for-priestly-celibacy/

DC priest: Celibacy allows a priest to give himself for others http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/07/17/dc-priest-celibacy-allows-a-priest-to-give-himself-for-others/

Patristic Ressourcement in the Theology of the Priesthood http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/04/05/patristic-ressourcement-in-the-theology-of-the-priesthood/

Pope John Paul II Definitively Said ‘No!’ to Women Priests http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/04/05/pope-john-paul-ii-definitively-said-no-to-women-priests/

Clericalism: Betrayal of the Body of Christ http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/04/05/clericalism-betrayal-of-the-body-of-christ/

Real Celibacy Is an Invitation from Divine Beauty http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/04/05/real-celibacy-is-an-invitation-from-divine-beauty/

THE AMAZON SYNOD AND MARRIED PRIESTS: Evil brought into the Church under guise of ‘safe, legal and rare’ http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/03/01/the-amazon-synod-and-married-priests-evil-brought-into-the-church-under-guise-of-safe-legal-and-rare/

Celibacy as choice Instead of asking why priests can’t be married, people should ask why they choose celibacy  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/01/29/celibacy-as-choice-instead-of-asking-why-priests-cant-be-married-people-should-ask-why-they-choose-celibacy/

POPE FRANCIS: ‘NO ROOM’ FOR HOMOSEXUALITY IN PRIESTHOOD OR RELIGIOUS LIFE http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/12/03/pope-francis-no-room-for-homosexuality-in-priesthood-or-religious-life-2/

POPE FRANCIS SAYS NO TO GAYS IN SEMINARY: Comes same day he affirmed a sex abuse victim was born gay http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/05/25/pope-francis-says-no-to-gays-in-seminary-comes-same-day-he-affirmed-a-sex-abuse-victim-was-born-gay/

‘GAY’ PRIESTS: THE TRUTH THAT DARE NOT SPEAK ITS NAME http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/08/20/gay-priests-the-truth-that-dare-not-speak-its-name/

Vatican’s doctrinal prefect Archbishop Luis Ladaria reaffirms ban on women priests, calls teaching “definitive” http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/05/30/vaticans-doctrinal-prefect-archbishop-luis-ladaria-reaffirms-ban-on-women-priests-calls-teaching-definitive/

Pope Francis to ordain 16 priests on Sunday: Be like Jesus the Good Shepherd http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/04/22/pope-francis-to-ordain-16-priests-on-sunday-be-like-jesus-the-good-shepherd/

Portugese priest Fr. Giselo Andrade who fathered child will remain in ministry http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/02/05/portugese-priest-fr-giselo-andrade-who-fathered-child-will-remain-in-ministry/

More Reasons to Support a Celibate Priesthood http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/11/30/more-reasons-to-support-a-celibate-priesthood/

11 Ways to Prepare Your Boy to be a Great Priest http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/11/15/11-ways-to-prepare-your-boy-to-be-a-great-priest/

Why Are Priests Called Father?  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/08/25/why-are-priests-called-father/

NORTH CAROLINA DIOCESE DENOUNCES WOMAN’S FAKE ORDINATION  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/05/02/north-carolina-diocese-denounces-womans-fake-ordination/

WHY MARRIED PRIESTS?  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/03/14/why-married-priests/

The Gift of Priestly Celibacy  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/06/25/the-gift-of-priestly-celibacy/

HEAD JESUIT CALLING FOR WOMEN’S ORDINATION?  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/03/13/head-jesuit-calling-for-womens-ordination/

Pope Francis Expresses Openness to Ordaining Married Men in Some Cases http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/03/11/pope-francis-expresses-openness-to-ordaining-married-men-in-some-cases/

The Catholic Priesthood http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/08/04/the-catholic-priesthood/

PRIEST IS VICTIM http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/08/09/priest-is-victim/

Catholic Vocation to Priesthood http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2014/06/11/catholic-vocation-to-priesthood/

Why a Celibate Priesthood? http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2015/12/20/why-a-celibate-priesthood/

What does the Doctor Diagnose? Listening to the Church Doctor: St. Catherine of Siena on Perennial Principles for Our Attitudes towards Priests http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/04/05/what-does-the-doctor-diagnose-listening-to-the-church-doctor-st-catherine-of-siena-on-perennial-principles-for-our-attitudes-towards-priests/

Discerning a Call to Priesthood? Some questions you should be asking yourself http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/10/16/discerning-a-call-to-priesthood-some-questions-you-should-be-asking-yourself/

Priesthood After Vatican II by Fr. Nicholson http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2014/04/28/priesthood-after-vatican-ii-by-fr-nicholson/

On the Ordination of Women and the Priesthood of Christ http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2015/11/21/on-the-ordination-of-women-and-the-priesthood-of-christ/

Feminism and the Catholic Priesthood: What’s the Root of the Matter? http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/05/03/feminism-and-the-catholic-priesthood-whats-the-root-of-the-matter/

Vatican re-affirms that homosexual men should not be admitted to priesthood  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/12/07/vatican-re-affirms-that-homosexual-men-should-not-be-admitted-to-priesthood/

VATICAN APPROVES ‘TRANSITORY’ GAY SEMINARIANS  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/12/08/vatican-approves-transitory-gay-seminarians/

Pope Francis: When priests are rigid they are separated from the people http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/12/10/pope-francis-when-priests-are-rigid-they-are-separated-from-the-people/

Pope Francis criticizes clergymen who feel superior to lay people  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/12/13/pope-francis-criticizes-clergymen-who-feel-superior-to-lay-people/

Conformed to a Vulnerable Savior: A Christmas Reflection for Priests http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/01/07/conformed-to-a-vulnerable-savior-a-christmas-reflection-for-priests/

Recovering Our Bearings: The Role of the Common Life in the Rebuilding of Priestly Fraternity http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/01/07/recovering-our-bearings-the-role-of-the-common-life-in-the-rebuilding-of-priestly-fraternity/

The ministerial orders of the The Roman Catholic Church are those of bishop, presbyter (more commonly called priest in English), and deacon. The ordained priesthood and the common priesthood (or priesthood of all the baptized faithful) are different in function and essence.^[1][2] The Catholic Church teaches that when a man participates in priesthood, he participates in the priesthood of Christ Himself. All men who, through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, have become priests participate in Christ’s priesthood; they act in persona Christi Capitis, in the person of Christ, the Head of His Body, the Church.^[3]