After realizing that the ship is not returning to Earth, the umpteenth captain of a ship that has been wandering around in space for over 700 years says, "So I guess we're going back to normal." By 'normal,' the captain refers to life in space instead of returning to Earth.
What the captain doesn't realize is that humanity floating in space for 700 years isn't normal. Living on Earth is normal for humanity.
Everyone on the ship has been there for 700 years that they've forgotten what normal is.
On Feb. 12, 2020, many thought we were going back to 'normal' just like the captain of the space ship. By 'normal' is meant returning to mandated celibacy in the Latin rite.
Mandated celibacy was strictly in force from 1123-1952. That is 829 years of what 99.9% of Roman Catholics think is normal. They think the Church has always had celibate priests for 2,000 years. Wrong.
They think it is an innovation but really it is a restoration. Most of the Latin Church's history had married priests.
But 1952? Why didn't I say 2020? Yes, in 1952, Pope Pius XII admitted married men to the Latin rite priesthood BEFORE Vatican II. This was a break from the norm since 1123.
Thus ended absolute mandatory celibacy in the Latin rite. Paul VI followed with more dispensations, along with JP2 with the Pastoral Provision, and Benedict XVI with the Ordinariate. All these Popes allowed married priests.
Francis didn't start -- or, rather end -- anything. Pius XII did, and he did it with a dispensation from the current norm.
There is absolutely nothing prohibiting a married priesthood theologically, juridically, practically, or in any other sense and meaning, save the will of Christ. The de facto existence of married priests in the 2,000 year history of the Church shows that.
The current norm is actually the new normal. Celibate priests is the new normal. The old normal was actually married priests.
That means that mandated celibacy is only 829 years young.
That also means that married priests have existed in the Latin rite for 1,121 years to date. And this doesn't even include the East which has had married priests since the beginning of the Church.
Married priesthood is part of venerable apostolic tradition. It is the old normal.
So yes let's go back to normal, as the captain said, and let's go back to the way it was. Let's restore the old normal by allowing more 'dispensations' for married men to be ordained the the priesthood of Jesus Christ.
That is really what is normal.
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