"My brothers and sisters, I confess to you I have sinned ... nothing I can say would justify my behaviors," the Rev. Salvador Czares-Haro, a priest at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Tucson, told his parishioners Saturday.
His great sin? Having a child.
In almost any other religion, this would be a joyous occasion. A priest - a man whose job description involves leading church members ethically and selflessly supporting a community - had a child. One would imagine that this is the type of person society would want raising a child. But instead, Czares-Haro is being ostracized and has taken a leave of absence from his position in the church.
The consequences of such social mores should surprise no one. Catholic Fathers are expected to be single and - ironically, given their title - without children; to be otherwise would break the very significant rule of celibacy.
It's absolutely preposterous that such a rule still exists today - and even more so that our society is accustomed to such socially repressing attitudes. These archaic expectations of clergy members don't fit in today's modern world. By placing such unrealistic expectations on clergy members, the Church is doing itself a disservice.
The amount and quality of people interested in Catholicism clerical vocation are hampered by celibacy, which stifles the church community. Many church leaders are in favor of abolishing it, if only partly so.
In the Midwest, Milwaukee priests are ready for a change. In September, 169 priests in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee sent a letter urging "optional celibacy," saying it would be a solution to the shortage of priests. Call to Action, a Catholic reform group in that area, is launching a national petition and education campaign.
In Chicago, the Association of Chicago Priests surveyed its members on the topic. Of 193 responses, more than 90 percent would like the debate of optional celibacy to be discussed at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
They are charting the grounds for a reformation in the Church. And it's about time.
Retaining such outdated and almost oppressive rules will continue the downfall of the Catholic Church, an institution already crumbling from a rash of immoral leaders.
In the past couple of years, we've seen the Church fall to its knees as its own members have either turned their backs, cried out for a solution or turned a blind eye to all of the problems. Accusations of child molestation and pedophilia by priests envelop the entire nation. Former Phoenix Bishop O'Brien was guilty of a hit-and-run manslaughter, and even Czares-Haro is no saint behind the wheel: He was charged with driving under the influence last year.
The Church needs to push itself into modern times with updated policies - or perish.
If Catholicism allowed priests to marry and have children, more people would be interested in the profession. It would attract a different crop of clergymen, solving the shortage problem and allowing for better discretionary policies.
And the procreation of such socially conscious people would bolster not only the community but also the Church itself. By having people like priests - intelligent, self-sacrificing leaders - raise children who can then have a positive impact, the Catholic Church would prosper. Many other religions already figured this one out.
There are obvious problems within the Church, and abandoning celibacy perhaps could contribute to a brighter future. While it may seem like a small step compared to other clerical reform (like the Anglican openly gay bishop), revoking the celibacy rule would be a step in the right direction.
Perhaps one day the Catholic Church will learn what other faiths already know: Celibacy doesn't work.
Rosie Cisneros is a journalism sophomore. Reach her at rosie.cisneros@asu.edu.
