Happily, From the Depths of Our Hearts, by Benedict XVI and Cardinal Robert Sarah, serves our obligation to honesty and clarity exceptionally well in any discussions of a married priesthood.
Benedict writes:
“In the common awareness of Israel, priests were strictly obliged to observe sexual abstinence during the times when they led worship and were therefore in contact with the divine mystery. . . . Given that the priests of the Old Testament had to dedicate themselves to worship only during set times, marriage and the priesthood were compatible.
“But because of the regular and often daily celebration of the Eucharist, the situation of the priests of the Church of Jesus Christ has changed radically. From now on their entire life is in contact with the divine mystery. This requires on their part exclusivity with regard to God. Consequently this excludes other ties which, like marriage, involve one’s whole life….”
Read the entire Jan. 15 article by Francis X. Maier in First Things.
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/cardinal-mueller-benedict-xvi-could-not-keep-silent-because-he-saw-the-danger
Cardinal Müller explains that there is one pope, Francis, but Benedict XVI is a bishop emeritus and should speak
“while the Roman Pontiff is the “principle of unity in the Church … all bishops, even emeriti, participate as such in the Magisterium of the Church together have the responsibility for the depositum fidei.”
I think it’s good Muller is defending the right of bishops to defend the Deposit of Faith, but I don’t see how he helps to explain why Benedict is only a bishop emeritus. If Benedict’s only a bishop emeritus, then why does he still give people his own Apostolic Blessings (as evidenced by the German meinem)?
Muller’s idea that people call Benedict ‘Pope Emeritus’ as but a “courtesy,” in my opinion, doesn’t explain this behavior at all. (Benedict gives Apostolic Blessings because people want to be courteous to him?) The most natural explanation is that Benedict believes he still has the authority bestowed on him as Pope. In that case, however, Benedict and Muller would be in serious disagreement over Benedict’s position in the Church.
I very much enjoyed the EWTN interview with Fr. Fessio, of Ignatius Press, regarding this excellent book! I am looking forward to reading it!
He promised to go away to a life of silence. It’s time he lived up to that promise both for his own good and the good of the Church.