BERLIN - Forty years ago, Joseph Ratzinger put into question the obligation of celibacy for Catholic priests. He did so in a confidential letter, written along with eight other distinguished young theologians and then sent to the German Bishops' Conference. The man who now appears to be a conservative pope, a staunch defender of tradition, orthodoxy and dogma, then asked to consider the possibilities of allowing priests a normal sex life and the construction of a family.
This was revealed yesterday, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung, quoting the contents of the letter. It is an embarrassing discovery for Benedict XVI, also because this year will visit Germany in September, his hometown, where the ruling party, the CDU's Angela Merkel, is in the forefront against the obligation of celibacy.
Mass disobedience of priests and faithful, the crisis of vocations, exodus of priests and believers from the Church, serious shortage of new priests who are truly at the ministry, loss of contact with the reality of life today. Here are the dangers that Ratzinger and the other eight theologians indicated in the letter secret.
The hierarchy decided not to react and respond. The letter ended up shelved in the archives, but now the circle of Catholic critics of Regensburg (AKR) has decided to publicize it. It was February 9, 1970, Ratzinger was only 42 years. "Filled with fear of God - they wrote the nine theologians - say the question of the emergency situation of the Church.
Our thoughts about the urgent need for reflection and a differentiated approach on the law of celibacy in the Church. We are convinced that this is necessary at the highest level cleric. " They chose to do so on their appointment as directors of the German Bishops' Conference on issues of faith.
"Those who believe such a clarification seems unnecessary to have little faith in the invitation of the Gospel and the Grace of God," continues the letter of the theologians who, at the time, remembered as celibacy in the Church was a law but not a dogma . And again: "Theologically it is unfair not to reconsider the issue in light of new historical and social situation.
Especially the young priests are asking, in light dell'Acate crisis of vocations, such as problems of life of the Church and its pastors can be solved in the coming years. " Those who choose the priesthood, pointed out the nine, deals with loneliness and loss of recognition of their role in society today, a highly sexualized society.
Ratzinger's letter was ignored and the remaining eight, is also not clear whether the German Bishops' Conference, in Rome or not. The continuing crisis of vocations, but today is one of nine theologians on the other side of the fence. 
This was revealed yesterday, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung, quoting the contents of the letter. It is an embarrassing discovery for Benedict XVI, also because this year will visit Germany in September, his hometown, where the ruling party, the CDU's Angela Merkel, is in the forefront against the obligation of celibacy.
Mass disobedience of priests and faithful, the crisis of vocations, exodus of priests and believers from the Church, serious shortage of new priests who are truly at the ministry, loss of contact with the reality of life today. Here are the dangers that Ratzinger and the other eight theologians indicated in the letter secret.
The hierarchy decided not to react and respond. The letter ended up shelved in the archives, but now the circle of Catholic critics of Regensburg (AKR) has decided to publicize it. It was February 9, 1970, Ratzinger was only 42 years. "Filled with fear of God - they wrote the nine theologians - say the question of the emergency situation of the Church.
Our thoughts about the urgent need for reflection and a differentiated approach on the law of celibacy in the Church. We are convinced that this is necessary at the highest level cleric. " They chose to do so on their appointment as directors of the German Bishops' Conference on issues of faith.
"Those who believe such a clarification seems unnecessary to have little faith in the invitation of the Gospel and the Grace of God," continues the letter of the theologians who, at the time, remembered as celibacy in the Church was a law but not a dogma . And again: "Theologically it is unfair not to reconsider the issue in light of new historical and social situation.
Especially the young priests are asking, in light dell'Acate crisis of vocations, such as problems of life of the Church and its pastors can be solved in the coming years. " Those who choose the priesthood, pointed out the nine, deals with loneliness and loss of recognition of their role in society today, a highly sexualized society.
Ratzinger's letter was ignored and the remaining eight, is also not clear whether the German Bishops' Conference, in Rome or not. The continuing crisis of vocations, but today is one of nine theologians on the other side of the fence.
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