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PRIESTS AND MARRIAGE

The Vatican has reaffirmed the value of celibacy for the Catholic tradition. We have several callers to discuss this.

Emails and texts are coming in. Chris in Nigeria: 'Priests must not be deceived by the ways of the flesh.'

Ros asks: 'Should all catholic priests be allowed to marry?'

Alex Walker is now married. He was formerly a priest. He says, 'We must uphold celibacy for some, but not the majority of priests'.

Father Peter Scally, a jesuit priest, 'My experience as a Priest has made me aware of the value of celibacy. It's a good and positive thing. It's certainly true for the first 1000 years of the church, priests were allowed to marry. Gradually after the 11th Century, it was not allowed. There's something special in the relationship between the congregation and their priests. It gives grace, even 'magic' to the relationship. The priest is making sacrifices for the parishioners.'

Chuungo, in Zambia: 'Anyone one who wants to be a priest will agree to abide by the rules of the church. Shouldn't be allowed to go back on it. They knew what they were getting into - a worthy sacrifice. I have considered becoming a priest, but didn't think I'd be able to sacrifice family life.'

Alex Walker again: 'First and foremost, i wanted to be a priest. What came with that was the discipline of celibacy. Its difficult to understand what it means until you take the job. Celibacy became self-destructive, not liberating. I decided I could not continue. Celibacy wasn't helping me to become 'fully alive'. I know priests for whom celibacy is such a burden, it can stifle them.'

Chuungo again: 'I don't regret my decision. I can serve God in many ways, without being a priest. If celibacy is hurting the church, such a staggering number of priests, the interests of the church must be put at the centre of the discussion.'

Alex agrees: 'This is the biggest problem the church is facing currently'.

But Father Scally adds: 'Having married clergy would bring its own problems.'

James, in Dearborn, US: 'The church is losing exceptional priests. I suspect that if the church were to have a revelation, as they have done in the past, in time they would experience a flourishing, and many role models would arise'.

Louis, in California: 'Right now the church cannot afford to allow married clergy. My personal feeling is that celibacy is a loving thing, but its difficult.'

Alex again: 'What about part-time roles as priests? We shouldn't be so focussed on the 24hr ministry job.'

A US texter: 'Entire experience of religion can result in disillusionment'

Alvaro, India: 'Celibacy is very healthy. The children of married priests might sin: what happens then?'

Father Peter answers this: 'celibacy is a sacrifice, but it's important that priesthood isn't seen as a cushy job'.

An anonymous email from a priest from Canada comes in: 'I strongly suspect that the Catholic Church will adopt similar rules to Orthodox churches, where allowed in some areas of ministry, but I can't see it happening in my lifetime.

John Doyle, Maryland, US: 'Priests have been married in the past. Only as time went on, we saw marriage as less than perfect. I came to the conclusion that requiring celibacy is not helpful to the church and I asked to be dispensed from the obligation of celibacy. This was allowed, but at the cost of exercising my ministry. I'm a priest, but I do not exercise my ministry.'

Have you any comments to add? Feel free to post a comment on this blog. We're back after the news...

ELECTIONS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

We're live, with callers from Kinshasa discussing the elections in the DRC.

Shawnee texts in: 'I fear for my country. like so many others in Africa, the losers of elections do not accept the democratic vote. I hope Bemba will not resort to violence. I have lost family in this civil war and we now need peace and reconciliation.'

Professor Theirry Ndlandu: 'we all expected Bemba to challenge the result, but we didn't know how. It's interesting that Bemba has only said he will challenge in the courts. The main issue now is what will happen after the supreme court decision, and whether the Congolese trust the decision. What next after the legal challenges run out?'

Severa is in our Kinshasa studio: 'I'm confident that this will be solved without guns; the UN troops are a great benefit. I just passed the Bemba resident, there are UNFOR and MONUC troops there, but no Bemba bodyguards. You can drive close by, and everything is calm. It's very quiet here. People are sad to see that Bemba lost, there might be rioting without the UN troops.'

Mads, in Eastern Congo: 'There is singing and dancing in the background here, Kalemie is celebrating the victory of Kabila. This part of the country heavily affected by war. People here are still dying. Kabila has got solid support in areas affected by the war. It would be very unfortunate if Bemba was to challenge using a method other than legal means - it would be stealing the victory from the people here. There may be large civil disorder here if Bemba was to use violence.'

Colin, via text, says "this rich country has been hurt at the hands of a selfish few."

Khalid in Germany texts us: "Only time will tell whether peace will remain".

Roy Maheshi in Kinshasa - 'i'm confident that Congo will remain calm after this vote, unless a neighbouring country gives support to the factions. Presently, this doesn't look like happening. Neighbouring countries are supporting the democratic process.'

A Bostoner emails: 'Kabila's priorities will be to unite the country and improve the basic introduction.

Abdullah in Washington: 'If you send some European observers to watch the election, you should make sure all parties will respect the results.'

Yenge in Uganda: 'Kabila should include Bemba in his cabinet to bring peace'.

TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN TO LOVE YOUR COUNTRY

Yoshi, a Japanese student says: 'I can say that it is very good if our kids respect our culture. But the idea that the Government can sanction the 'right' version of nationalism is wrong.'

Prof. Mark Seldon at Cornell University: 'We need to look at the recent proposals in the light of the conflicts in Japanese society. We can call this 'compulsory patriotism'. This is how they're dealing with a rebellion by teachers and students. It deals with how to remember WW2 and colonialism. All countries implicity try to promote love for their nation, the question is how.'

Steven in the US: 'Good for Japan, it's normal to love your country as your family'.

Karen in Alamba: 'I think we need to define patriotism and nationalism. US students are almost being taught to hate our country. There's the idea that the US is responsible for HIV and all sorts. We need to combat this, but most Americans probably don't know the words to the US anthem!

Nihad from Cairo: 'We sing the national anthem daily, but this doesn't imply you love your country - the kids just have to sing it. When my daughter grows up she will decide whether she loves her country or not'.

Prof. Seldon again: 'I think that we need to come to terms with our history if we want to live in the world. These issues are important, because the issues about suffering in the past need to be resolved.

Natsuko: 'I don't think the nation can interfere in education to promote nationalism, and blind following of the country'.

Carol in Detroit: 'I don't want it taught in American classrooms, loving your country should happen naturally'.

And Carol's comment wraps up today's show. Thanks to everyone who called, emailed and texted in!