Can R.C. Priests be armed?

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Are you asking us morally? Would people morally judge a priest who carries a weapon?
In the NT the issue of owning weapons is not clarified. St. Peter tried to defend Christ and cut the ear of one soldier and Christ rebuked him but that is because Peter was interfering with God’s plan.
From the lives of saints many carried weapons and fought wars but others did not defend themselves at all. So God does not filter based on owning weapons.
I am not a fan of weapons myself because that is my nature. But others may well own them and use them if they think they need it. I do agree with the argument that those who own them should also learn how to use them and for them to do so society needs to allow them the right to practice.
I don’t think wars are caused by weapons anyway. Wars are cause by certain ideas that a leader has convinced his/her people will make their life better. Many wars (I include here even peasants’ revolts) were started in the absence of weapons. Motivated people will fight even if they are not sure how. So banning weapons will not produce world peace because the tool cannot replace the motive.
I would not condemn any priest who considers of wearing a weapon or consider him less priestly. Or a monk.
Sacrifice is something to be offered not to be demanded imho.
 
Also it’s sort of depends on what you mean by armed.

Just for curiosity sake, I did a short search to see if any priest has ever shot a person and didn’t come up with a single hit.

On the other hand, I do know of a Pope who once cut a guy’s ear off.
 
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LOL…I have a Glock also, but he has no experience with firearms, so I’m starting him out slowly.
 
There is nothing I am aware of precluding a priest from owning a gun for personal protection (or recreation, for that matter).

Bringing a gun to Mass would be a different story; I don’t have an answer…
 
Thats what I was thinking… It would have to be quite an extraordinary situation…
 
I’m sure Father Terra is going to have to live with that guilt for the rest of his life.

Having seen Phoenix, AZ though, I can definitely understand why he had a gun.
 
All the more reason that good firearms training is nessecary in conjunction with owning one.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
Here’s one where the priest was trying to shoot somebody in self-defense. The target grabbed his gun and killed another priest.
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That’s why it’s important to realize that simply owning a gun doesn’t make one safe. Instead, it’s critical to know how to use it, to practice it regularly, and not pull it out if not prepared to use it. The lack of any one of these three invariably ends with tragedy, and such a person is poorly-served by possessing a gun…
 
Yes, exactly. Training and proper ownership re as important if not more so than actually purchasing a firearm.
 
What has worked out well for Protestant Churches is to have security during the service. Even a sign that says these premises are armed and we will protect our congregation from violence is a deterrent.
 
and for larger parishes, many have police officers in the parish… I know that at mine, when some suspicious activity began occuring outside our Sunday masses, our priest met with the police members of our congrgation and asked them to do their best to each attend a separate Mass while carrying their weapon, so that all big Masses are protected.
 
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And in most large cities, the fact that police forces hve a lot of Irishmen (and therefore Catholics) really helps
 
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