Why have I supported MMaC for many years? An initial response of ‘why not?’ is a bit of a ‘cop out’!  I recall that several times at school and when a student I was asked if I’d thought of becoming a priest and I feel sure my sense of vocation might have been a bit different had it not been for the celibacy rule, for I was aware that I had a strong sex drive and liked girls too much. But why should that stop me from being called to leadership in the Christian community?

I feel very strongly that viable Christian communities have a right of access to the eucharist and that it is the responsibility of the official leadership of the Church to ensure that they have an authorized priest. It is a scandal that so many Catholics, especially in Latin America and Europe but also in our own country’s increasing  number of priestless parishes, do not have access to the community celebration of Mass on a regular basis. Yet the celibacy rule is a disciplinary rule instituted for a specific purpose in a different historical period. In our present situation early in the twenty first century in Britain it seems to me the Holy Spirit is telling us that the celibacy rule is not essential for a participatory, collaborative and enabling form of leadership in the local parish community. The Scriptures seem quite clear that for Jesus rules were intended for the benefit of the community ; the Sabbath was made for people, not vice-versa. Jesus rejected the primacy of religious rules over the needs of people. In our times a married clergy seems appropriate.

My personal view (not necessarily that of MMaC) is that my advocacy of a married clergy is part of a desire and commitment to see a much more thorough renewal in the Church, as advocated by the Second Vatican Council over forty years ago. Thus I would advocate a much less centralized Church, with a more honest promotion of episcopal collegiality ; a rejection of patriarchy in the Church and hence an acceptance of the ordination of women priests; and at the local level, a more genuinely collaborative form of parish ministry with a greater empowerment of lay people who have their own proper vocations; and the  elimination of caste differences between clergy and lay people. This is a hefty agenda and I doubt if it will be realized in my lifetime. But we can always sow mustard seeds! I see my membership of MMaC as a contribution to that renewal.

Michael P. Hornsby-Smith
15 August 2006.
mhornsbysm@aol.com