Celibat diakonów i prezbiterów w dyscyplinie Kościoła łacińskiego

Abstract

The article concerns the priesthood and the discipline of celibacy it involves. The subject of celibacy has been drawn to the fore by discussion concerning the pedophilia scandal in the Church. Even though the media stress that no such sexual abuse should be linked with the requirement of celibacy, these events indirectly provoked a discussion about the meaning of celibacy and the need for it in contemporary reality. For this reason, some maintain that a new look at celibacy is needed. Others ask questions about the origins and the early understanding of celibacy. Was it understood in the same way by medieval canonists and thinkers as it is understood in our times? What does the celibacy of a deacon or a priest mean today? What about married priests from other religious communities who wish to be admitted into the Latin Church? What is the procedure for obtaining dispensation from celibacy? Will celibacy have its place in the Church of tomorrow? Such questions and answers to them constitute the main content of the study.