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Beyond Priests

The Future of Ministry in the Catholic Church
Brief Description
Beyond Priests contends that the requirements of the clerical priesthood of the Catholic Church—that all priests must be male, and that all priests must be celibate—is a gross distortion of scripture and the church’s early history that must be changed. While the roots of the modern... Read More
Format: Hardback
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Former Catholic priest rejects celibacy and the all-male priesthood, offering the unexplored history of the clerical priestly vocation and presenting a model for radially reforming its structure—one that is inclusive of women and married male priests.

Former Catholic priest rejects celibacy and the all-male priesthood, offering the unexplored history of the clerical priestly vocation and presenting a model for radially reforming its structure—one that is inclusive of women and married male priests.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Beyond Priests contends that the requirements of the clerical priesthood of the Catholic Church—that all priests must be male, and that all priests must be celibate—is a gross distortion of scripture and the church’s early history that must be changed.

While the roots of the modern priesthood go back to the fourth century and even more remotely to the presbyters or elders who advised local bishops in the early church, the contemporary priestly model is very much the product of seventeenth-century French reformers acting to apply a 1563 decree on the priesthood of the Council of Trent.

The present-day priestly model has increasingly become harmful, even toxic, not only to priests themselves, but to the ministry and the Catholic community. Based on historical analysis, Beyond Priests outlines a whole new way of approaching ministry and leadership that is in tune with contemporary needs, is inclusive of women and men, and is more authentically derived from the New Testament and the early church.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9798881802608

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 18 February 2025

Country: United States

Imprint: Sheed & Ward,U.S.

Illustration: 1 BW Photo

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 144

About the Author

Paul Collins is a former parish priest, broadcaster, historian, and writer. He is the author of including Absolute Power: How the Pope Became the Most Influential Man in the World (2018), The Birth of the West: Rome, Germany, France, and the Creation of Europe in the Tenth Century (2013), and Judgment Day: The Struggle for life on Earth (2010) and many other books. His articles and essays have appeared in the London Tablet, National Catholic Reporter, and magazines across Australia, Germany, Austria, and Italy. Collins resides in Canberra, Australia.

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