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Robertanthony
Guest
I’ve noticed that trend myself: each and every time there is a Catholic on a TV series, that person is always portrayed in a negative way. They’re either delusional, mentally unbalanced or hide deep dark secrets etc.
Lol.
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adrift
Guest
It has been my experience that priest have a much better outlook on what marriage is percisely because they are not married and don’t have any personnal baggage regarding married life. The most enlightened discussion about marriage has been with a pirest. So no they cannot benifit from being married.
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PennyinCanada
Guest
Men with urges toward children will seek out positions of trust to gain access to children. They chose the priesthood for this reason, not because they have a vocation to serve Christ. The Church will always have wolves come in in sheep’s clothing to destroy the sheep. Then the media comes in to continue the attack on the priesthood rather than the men who prey on young boys, using the Church as a means to gain access to them.
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Bl_Pope_Pius_IX
Guest
I understand the similarities between the “2AM sick call” and the physicians midnight visit. But understand the following (and forgive me for taking liberties on our physician scenario). Is the physicians wife OK with him coming and going in the middle of the night? We mustn’t think of the toll on the lives of Priests, and it would be greater than it is already. We must also remind ourselves of the toll on the lives of the Priest’s wife or children. Why cause them unneccesary suffering?
Your example of EC priests and rabbis is a good one, granted, however, why should we take them as examples? Why conform our Church to be like theirs? It isn’t needed. As you have a more extensive knowledge of the lives of EC Priests than I do, please tell me what happens when a Priest dies. Does the Rectory go to the wife and kids? Does the inheritance go to Church or the family? If Priests can get married and have children, do you think Bishops can? If Bishops do become able to marry, this will surely open them up to nepotism.
I am confidant in saying that it is difficult for one to be both a priest and a dad and a husband. Even if it is accomplished, I even more heavily doubt its productivity. I don’t see why it is worth the risk either. Priests have already discerned their vocation. Priesthood (celibacy), Married life, Single life. If they couldn’t remain celibate as a priest that is perfectly fine, don’t become one. But the Church must be the number ONE lady in a man’s life. The Church is the number ONE lady in my life, and a married priesthood is a watered down priesthood for me. Also, I don’t know of any Priest that was forced to divorce his wife in order to be ordained. I also doubt Peter was required to do so as well.I can understand some people thinking a priest can’t be part of a family and be a productive priest at the same time. Those are the priests who should remain single. But that shouldn’t apply to them all. They were married in the past, and will be able to marry again someday. I just hope I’m around to celebrate itSt. Peter was married. He wasn’t required to divorce his wife in order to be an Apostle or the first Pope.
I must also beg your pardon if I seemed too blunt or “gruff” in this post. I meant no offense, just trying to understand as you do.
~ Pius :knight1:
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sallybutler
Guest
But those who are truly called to the priesthood are pedaphiles or whatever the term is for men who like adults.
BTW, there are lots and lots of non-Catholic ministers that are pedaphiles or adulterers. The reason that non-Catholic ministers don;t get as much attention is that there is no money in going after other churches
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PbloPicasso
Guest
I just want to point out my appreciation for you bringing this subject up again. There are always new members and lurkers that may not be familiar with the great deceit going on from the media and misled people not paying good diligence to rational thinking.Does anyone think that Catholic priests could benifit from being married? With all the pedophelia controversy on the news I wondered if this would be a reasonable suggestion to help the problem.
Thanks for reading and answering,
Protestant Me
And as to your choice of words, I understand you. That is I think I do. You’re thoughts are that the perceptions of others might change or improve in the way they view the Catholic Church and its leaders. I get it, but I also understand that our concern isn’t to appease the masses, but to do the Divine Will of God. Sometimes this includes allowing people to be offended and misguided. Celibacy is a beautiful vocation. Keep that in mind when you speak about the “holy ones”. They are today’s modern disciples. And in spite of their sins, we must still obey, as Christ told us to in Matthew 23, concerning the Chair of Moses. Jesus told us to do as they say, not as they do. Look what David did, yet God speaks of David as “a man after God’s own heart”. There is no justification for the irresponsible way that much of this has been handled, yet we still must respect our elders.
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Bl_Pope_Pius_IX
Guest
I hear Austria is on the verge of schism over it.
NOTE: I am not meaning to gossip. I am simply adding the situation of the Priests in Austria. That is all.
~ Pius :knight1:
po18guy
Well-known member
Well, just what were those priests, as seminarians for eight years, and sensate human beings for all of their lives, actually thinking? Disobedience is nothing new - this is but the latest iteration of it. Those who persist in breaking their vows before God, and that of obedience to their Bishop, and his successors, will have a medicinal remedy applied to them. The Church neither rises nor falls on what happens in Austria.
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ComeHome2Rome
Guest
Hi Protestant Me,Does anyone think that Catholic priests could benifit from being married? With all the pedophelia controversy on the news I wondered if this would be a reasonable suggestion to help the problem.
Thanks for reading and answering,
Protestant Me
There already are married priests within the Catholic Church, but it is very rare. Married priests are not the norm in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, but there are some - mostly Protestant Clergy converts to the Catholic Church from one of the Protestant Churches.
Pedophelia in the priesthood was less than .01% of priests, much less % than that of pedophelia among school teachers. Pedophiles are also among Protestant clergy who are typically married. People hear more about cases about the Catholic Church because the Church, rightly so, is held to a higher standard and it’s shocking because it’s so rare.
Marriage doesn’t prevent a pedophile from committing their evil against children and likewise someone who chooses celibacy or is forced to be celibate, doesn’t ever become a pedophile. I mean think about it - husband & wife are married for years with children when the wife becomes paralized from an accident, unable to have marital relations with his wife the husband is suddenly & permanently forced to be celibate but that doesn’t make the husband become a pedophile.
Unmarried priests are the norm for the Catholic Church for good reason and I hope for the sake of the priests who have much more hectic schedule than ER Doctors that it stays that way. Just like St. Paul warned the unmarried, ‘It is better to remain as you are’ single like him so that your attention ‘is not divided’ between God and family. There is usually like 5,000+ Catholic Families per priest at parishes, priests would find it near impossible to provide any attention to wife and physical children because of the time and attention needed to care for all of his spiritual children.
Blessings,
ComeHome2Rome
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Eric_Hilbert
Guest
Then I would suggest now we all try to get along.
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
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Cowboy_Pete
Guest
It seems to me a mistake to take so many of your best, brightest, and most spiritual members, and tell them that they can’t make and raise children. It seems to me that you would want these people to raise up families in Christ.
With that said, I do not think that celibacy was the cause of child molestation.
With that said, I do not think that celibacy was the cause of child molestation.
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You
Guest
I think that 97% of abuse is by non-religious men and women. Meaning that 97% of abusers are lay people both married and unmarried. It would appear to be 97% safer if everyone on the planet became a celibate priest rather than remain lay people married or unmarried.Does anyone think that Catholic priests could benifit from being married? With all the pedophelia controversy on the news I wondered if this would be a reasonable suggestion to help the problem.
Thanks for reading and answering,
Protestant Me
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FabiusMaximus
Guest
I think you’re kind of implying (perhaps not purposely) that marriage is incompatible with the priesthood. I don’t see it that way.
Marriage is a beautiful sacrament/gift that the Lord gave us. A man who is happily married with a godly woman receives much support and encouragement from her, someone to share good and bad times in the faith.
I don’t see why that cannot apply to a priest. I understand that being a priest is a vocation, and God comes first. However, I see marriage as something that could help someone in the priesthood. Do priests not get doubts and feel lonely? Allowing them be married not only helps them, but can also help the parish at large - as priests serve as examples on holy living, so their families can serve as such as well.
Additionally, the Eastern Rite, the Orthodox, and the early Church clearly allowed for married priests. So the real question should be, why prevent them now?
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Bl_Pope_Pius_IX
Guest
I am not implying that at all. Though marriage CAN be compatible with the Priesthood, it simply is not at this time in the Latin Rite.
Marriage is, indeed, a gift to humanity. It is beautiful and loving. However, Our Lord opened ANOTHER path for us to follow. That path is celibacy. Celibacy allows a Priest to be concerned ONLY to Him and His Word. That someone that a Priest can share in good and bad times, is Christ. Celibacy is such a gift.
Firstly, married couples feel doubs too. Married couples struggle and they suffer as well. Priests are already examples of holiness, the Priest is the Father of his flock. As I have said before, a Priest is a busy priest. Add a wife and a couple kids? The Parish is to look to the Priest as someone who is their guide. Someone who will always be there for you. I know if I needed Confession or to ask a question of a Priest, that I would have an even harder time doing it if he was married than I do already. My reason for this is not that marriage detracts from his holiness, but I wouldn’t want to bother him, maybe he is bonding with his children, or eating with his wife. No. I don’t think marriage would help a Priest.
A Priest is never alone, he must constantly remember “I am not alone, for the Father is with me”.
Celibacy is a defining feature of the Priesthood in the Latin Rite. The tradition of celibacy must be upheld. If we go back on it now, it will compromise nearly 1,000 years of celibacy. No. It is too late now. I must also remind you, that even the Church in the East has a high regard for celibacy. Bishops are celibate and Priests cannot get married after ordination. This shows a reverence for purity and respect for celibacy.
When it comes to the early Church, I must remind you, that the Latin Rite has pronounced celibacy for nearly 1,000 years, if I am correct. So celibacy is by no means a “new” notion. (More recent? Yes. New? No.)
~ Pius :knight1:
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Protestant_Me
Guest
I didn’t find it unbearableIncase this post was directed towards myself:
I am sorry if my post was unbearable. I love speaking to protestants about the faith. My own mother is protestant (episcopal). As I said before, keep asking these questions
~ Pius :knight1:
I would love to speak to more people that don’t get so offended by my questions and wording. I only know what I’ve read and seen and just want answers. Please feel free to keep commenting on my posts or reffering me to helpful pages.
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JamestheOlder
Guest
You have access to quite unusual physicians…don’t have any of those here in GA.Physicans face the same problem but somehow manage. But you are more than entitled to your opinion
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stayinthelight
Guest
Most married men do not remain sexually continent. They have sex with their wives and lose their semen.
I think there is something very very important and unique about sexual continence / celibacy.
When a man orgasms and loses his semen, he experiences a sort of spiritual loss. If he remains sexually continent, if he abstains from all sexual thoughts and desires, something very special happens inside him.
I’m not a priest and I haven’t taken formal vows of any kind for any reason. But I have experienced the joys and benefits of celibacy / sexual continence. I’m very blessed because I do not really struggle with sexual desire anymore. And life is more meaningful than ever before. (If you struggle, ask Christ to help. Ask with your heart. Frequently. and meaningfully.)
Some people might pity priests, but I’m pretty sure some priests live very joyful, complete, fulfilling lives. They are in love with God and with serving God.
God bless all the good priests out there, especially if any are reading this.
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sallybutler
Guest
God calls some to be married and raise up families in Christ and He calls others to serve Him differently. It is God who is asking priests not to have children.It seems to me a mistake to take so many of your best, brightest, and most spiritual members, and tell them that they can’t make and raise children. It seems to me that you would want these people to raise up families in Christ.
With that said, I do not think that celibacy was the cause of child molestation.
The Church is actually giving priests and nuns freedom to serve God completely without the prejudices that most unmarried protestant ministers are subjected to.
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