Y
YoungTradCath
Guest
Yeppers! Whew, I would hate to be present in parish meetings about such subjects. “We have to increase the offerings by WHAT?!”
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C
CutlerB
Guest
My (former) Anglican parish is going through exactly that at the moment. Tithing is being considered, although the matter is nothing to do with the vicar’s family, since he doesn’t have one here.
J
josethomas
Guest
Celibate priesthood is better for the Church and her children, not only sons but daughters too. But the priest should live up to his vocation including keeping the vow of celibacy. Jesus Christ refers to people who keep away from sex for the sake of his kingdom. It is also stated that to completely follow Christ means to leave father, mother and wife.Church found it better not to make destitutes and hence the celibate priesthood became the norm. There are those who vociferously champion the cause of married priesthood as solution for churches problem. I earnestly request all those to study the fate of the Eastern Churches vis a vis the Latin Church where celibate priesthood is the norm Being a layman I prefer to seek the body and blood of Christ in the hands of a celibate priest rather than others. Our liturgy is resplendent with signs. One of the important signs is to see Jesus in the person of the Priest, spiritually. And materially he should be a man available to others to show mercy and compassion and not to be mere money managers. Only a celibate priest will satisfy this and not a gay priest or married priest. Let our priesthood become Holy and we lay people pray for the same rather than find shortcuts going to end in absolute non sense.
D
Deus_tecum
Guest
A single priest has 100% of his time and his intent to devote to the congregation. A married priest would be juggling responsibility to wife and children. Some men handle this well in Protestant churches. Others create resentment in the wife and children. There is simply no way a married priest could accomplish as much as a single priest without compromising his family. “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
J
jediliz
Guest
I doubt they polled a “majority” of Catholics in the USA.
Perhaps they should actually ask PRACTICING Catholics that go to Mass EVERY week and on Holy Days of Obligation, not just a select few that may attend Mass on Christmas and Easter Only.
J
JimR-OCDS
Guest
It’s why if it does come, I believe it would be best opened to deacons first, who already work jobs and have families which usually consist of adult children.
They will serve as associates rather than regular priest or pastors in a parish. In other words, they’ll perform the same duties they do now as deacons, with the additional privileges of saying Mass, hearing Confessions and giving Last rights.
After time if this works, then look for full-time married priests.
Jim
P
ProVobis
Guest
It’s slowly happening already so I don’t know what the major fuss is all about, unless it’s to promote married priests. There would have to be a lot of changes, such as redesigning new rectories, etc. in order for promotion of married priests to happen. Just my opinion, though.
J
JimG
Guest
Yes, I agree that if it occurs it would be best to begin with permanent deacons who are already married and working in other jobs. Of course, what we seem to be describing here is part-time priests. And I’m not entirely comfortable with that.
D
Deus_tecum
Guest
ring, ring
“Saint Novus Ordo Mundi Catholic Church. How can I help you?”
“I need to speak with Father Mark. It’s urgent.”
“Sorry, he’s watching his kids while his wife is at the doctor.”
“Well, I suppose Father John could help. May I speak with him?”
“Oh no. He’s on his honeymoon.”
“Father William is so new, but at least he is a priest. Can you put Father William on?”
“So sorry. Father William had a big fight with his wife, and she broke all their dishes and left him. He’s in no mood.”
“Saint Novus Ordo Mundi Catholic Church. How can I help you?”
“I need to speak with Father Mark. It’s urgent.”
“Sorry, he’s watching his kids while his wife is at the doctor.”
“Well, I suppose Father John could help. May I speak with him?”
“Oh no. He’s on his honeymoon.”
“Father William is so new, but at least he is a priest. Can you put Father William on?”
“So sorry. Father William had a big fight with his wife, and she broke all their dishes and left him. He’s in no mood.”
J
JimR-OCDS
Guest
Deacons are part time now and work for free, but there are now some full-time paid deacons, but they’re the exception.
Also, married priest would first serve in parishes where there are full-time priest, but that will evolve as time goes on and Catholics adjust to married priest.
Jim
J
JimR-OCDS
Guest
Compared to what we have today.
Phone rings:
“Hello, you have reached the rectory of St. Bingo. Please leave your name and number and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.”
Jim
L
Lapey
Guest
There are dioceses that have full time paid permanent deacons. Few, but they are out there. This is becoming more prevalent these days. Some dioceses pay their deacons the same, or close to the same, as priests.
I could see a transition period as you describe much like the reality of the PD; basically serve in the same type of capacity as a PD does now except as a priest with the faculties of a priest.
It could work. Although I don’t see this happening in our life time; neither do I see myself wanting this type of change. But that is completely my opinion.
T
the_undertaker
Guest
why would there be a need for a tax, which I wouldn’t pay, when priest’s get salaries now. The Wife might work, bring home big bucks. They could both drive Bmers, I know some priests that drive Bmers now. What’s the big deal. People who don’t want priests to marry are intolerant. People who don’t live the idea of priest having wifes, probably don’t like gays and lesbians
.
M
Misplaced_Book
Guest
I think you are discounting the possible role that a priest’s wife can play in parish life. In Orthodoxy, the Presbytera (or Matushka in the Russian Church) is a very important part of the parish.
It need not be Wife and kids on the side…integration can occur.
M
Misplaced_Book
Guest
This is a hasty and uncharitable generalization.
There are different reasons they don’t want a priest to marry. The one I find most compelling is the argument from Latin Tradition.
B
Blind_Didymus
Guest
If you will forgive me please, but your logic is in error. Having married priests enables numerous suitable men who are married to become priests who otherwise would have been prevented from being so. As such, the population of priests swells meaning that the workload for the priesthood is spread more broadly and thus each priest carries a lighter burden.
That said, in the Coptic Orthodox Church at least, the process for being chosen to become a priest often takes so long that there is still a notable shortage. My own priest is married with three children and yet still serves over 1000 families in his main parish aside from the missions the Lord has sent him to establish here and there.
O
oneofmany
Guest
Why not listen to the wives of the priests we have now. I heard one of the wives say it was a really bad idea. She is living that life so she should know.
A priest has to be available to his parishioners at all times, even on Christmas Eve if one is dying. I think it would be harder than being married to a doctor and that is hard enough.
A priest has to be available to his parishioners at all times, even on Christmas Eve if one is dying. I think it would be harder than being married to a doctor and that is hard enough.
L
Lapey
Guest
I understand your point and I agree that we should leave celibacy as a major part of the priesthood, but this is not a good argument.
I’ve worked 30 years in the electric utility business, the last 7 as a manager. Do you have any idea how many birthdays and Christmas Eves and football games, weddings, Sunday Masses, fishing trips, )I think you get the picture) that I missed working as a lineman?
Priests do not get anywhere near the calls in the middle of the night as linemen on call 24/7/365. There are times I don’t see my wife awake for two or three weeks at a time during hurricane restoration. I have traveled out of state on storm repair duty for up to five weeks at a time (North Mississippi ice storm of ’94), yet we still have a great marriage.
What about husbands who work in the oil field and are gone for up to three months at a time?
I’ve seen this argument made here repeatedly and it holds no water in reality. To think that a man who is at his home in bed with his wife sleeping cannot respond to a sick call like the same man sleeping in his celibate bed at a rectory in the same efficient and affective manner is just plain insane.
I think the issue is that he is sleeping in the bed with a wife.
Again I repeat, I am not arguing to change the discipline, simply suggesting to not using this argument because it is not legitimate. Neither am I saying not speak to the wives, just don’t make the argument about being available at all hours because a married man can just as easily as a celibate man.
I
iwunnder
Guest
I think it makes sense. How better to relate to the world that married couples live in than to be married yourself. Not saying it will happen but glad we have people in the Church with the courage to explore the possibilities.
J
JimR-OCDS
Guest
Priest will do as doctors do, the will rotate coverage times.
As it is, when I call the rectory, I get the answering machine and the pastor will get back to me when available.
If it’s an emergency, such as a person needing last rights at a hospital, there is a Cathloc Priest chaplain on duty at the hospital, 24/7.
Jim
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