Do you think priests should be allowed to marry?

[distracted]

Is this really “not logical” to you?

Catholics (and most Christians) read the Bible on many levels. We read it both literally and spiritually. Further, Catholics (and most Christians) divide the spiritual sense into three subdivisions, the allegorical, moral, and anagogical. So in the anagogical sense, Mary (who is also the mother of the Church) and the Church ARE both our “mother.”

what is the anagogical??

 

[SIA]

I believe up-thread that this was well covered.

The answer to your first question “Why not?” [should priests marry] lies in the choice to follow Our Lord in his personal example of celibacy and in his recognition in Mt. 19:11-12: “Not all men can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs **for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. **He who is able to receive this, let him receive it.”

In Mt. 22, Our Lord notes that “in the Resurrection” there is no marriage, so celibacy is a witness to the Resurrection.

The question is not MAY married men be priests – because, as everyone here has acknowledged, it IS possible. The question is SHOULD they. The Latin Church has deemed that she will ordaiin only those men who feel called to follow Our Lord’s example.

One might rather ask why most Christian denominations fail to acknowledge the consecrated single state as something for those few “to whom it is given” for the sake of the Kingdom.

I fail to see how this can be translated to mean this.

 

[vocatio]

distracted,
I am not trying to act like your father.

Let me ask you a simple questions. Is there a special priest in your life? Is this priest in love with you? I just want to be clear that this is not the real intention behind your posts.

 

[rinnie]

Distracted, This is just my opinion but it may help you. I think that when a person gets the calling like we talked about before there is a special need in them that only God can fill. Just like i could never imagine not being with a man, I have been with my husband since i was 19. But see there were many of times other men have come on to me, still do at times, and im sure for him. but see our calling from God was to be with eachother, ITs stronger than that urge to cheat, Do you see what i mean, for me to have a affair and ruin what we have built is crazy. I think Priests are like that too. They have a special relationship with God. The only difference is sex. but sex is a special blessing God did mean between a man and wife, and the ones that stay true to that promise have kept that special gift. See what i mean, how many people do you know that gave in, the husband or the wife,and what did it do to their marriage, it is never the same after that. But i believe that is why we have special graces put upon us. And the ones that pray real hard Married couples who are tempted go to God, and he helps them with those desires, (not to cheat). And stay true, the same with a priest, sure he is tempted at times, but it is God that is his choice, and he also can fight them off. . But i think they have a special Grace from God to make it easier for them. But it is like marriage the same thing, hold true to your promise to God, that oath, and he will make it so much easier for you to do it. all you do is pray and ask. It all goes back to the plan God has for us, some its a family, some a priest, nun. some is never to get married and serve God in our own special way. Thats what we have to figure out, what he wants from us. Hope that helped.

 

[mercygate]

"mercygate:

*I believe up-thread that this was well covered. *

*The answer to your first question “Why not?” [should priests marry] lies in the choice to follow Our Lord in his personal example of celibacy and in his recognition in Mt. 19:11-12: “Not all men can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs **for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. ***He who is able to receive this, let him receive it.”

*In Mt. 22, Our Lord notes that “in the Resurrection” there is no marriage, so celibacy is a witness to the Resurrection. *

*The question is not MAY married men be priests – because, as everyone here has acknowledged, it IS possible. The question is SHOULD they. The Latin Church has deemed that she will ordaiin only those men who feel called to follow Our Lord’s example. *

One might rather ask why most Christian denominations fail to acknowledge the consecrated single state as something for those few “to whom it is given” for the sake of the Kingdom.

I fail to see how this can be translated to mean this.

Translated? There is absolutely nothing in the translation that is questionable. In fact, I quote from the RSV: not even the Catholic edition.

 

[distracted]

distracted,
I am not trying to act like your father.

Let me ask you a simple questions. Is there a special priest in your life? .

There used to be…

mostly, i just wanted to explore this question because i don’t see how men can stay celibate so long when they are not virgins… (seeing as how it is SO hard for me… sometimes… It is not difficult ALL the time for me… & I am sure that if i have to stay celibate “forever”, i will be OK with that… but) a lot of the time, i don’t deal with it as well as… some seem to think or what have you… “It is not good for man to be alone”…

 

[mercygate]

There used to be…

mostly, i just wanted to explore this question because i don’t see how men can stay celibate so long when they are not virgins… (seeing as how it is SO hard for me… sometimes… It is not difficult ALL the time for me… & I am sure that if i have to stay celibate “forever”, i will be OK with that… but) a lot of the time, i don’t deal with it as well as… some seem to think or what have you… “It is not good for man to be alone”…

I recall a word of wisdom from one of the Desert Fathers, who was tormented by carnal temptation. He told his Abba that he never prayed to be free of it but only that the Lord would continue to give him the strength to handle it.

In another case, one monk berated another for his weakness against carnal temptation. But this monk had been spared these trials because the Lord knew he did not have the moral fiber withstand them. So to teach him a lesson in humility, the Lord allowed the devil to assault his purity for a bit, and the monk ran, screaming for mercy!

 

[distracted]

I.

In another case, one monk berated another for his weakness against carnal temptation. But this monk had been spared these trials because the Lord knew he did not have the moral fiber withstand them.

Wow… that’s interesting… something to think about…

So to teach him a lesson in humility, the Lord allowed the devil to assault his purity for a bit, and the monk ran, screaming for mercy!

So i guess i should be flattered (?) that God thinks i am strong enough to endure all this?? :whacky: :banghead: uch: :hypno: Hmmm…

 

[SIA]

Translated? There is absolutely nothing in the translation that is questionable. In fact, I quote from the RSV: not even the Catholic edition.

The question was ‘should priests be allowed to marry?’, my comment was that I fail to see how your bible quote confirms that they should not.

 

[Jimmy_B]

Of course the is NO!.

And with that, I bumped this thread to 667…I don’t like the number 666.

Peace

 

[SacredHeartFan]

I would like to know if you think priests should be allowed to marry and still stay in the priesthood… If so, Why or why not??

no. bad idea.

 

[Jimmy_B]

I see SIA beat me too it (no.667),Anyways… SIA, Catholicism is the religion of Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition…but you already knew that.

Holy Scripture (the Bible), the Church (the Magisterium and the Pope) and Tradition.

Peace

 

[Sublime_Prince]

I find evidence saying they can’t extremely flimsy. All other denominations allow marriage. I think that requirement keeps many qualifed people becoming great priests. Some may even leave the church because they want to become a pries but are married. So they become a minister in another denomination.

I really think being chaste all your life leaves too much temptation in your life. I think it leads open the possibility for sexual abuse and sex scandals that may not occur if the priest had a wife he could go home to allieviate some of those desires.

 

[Howard_Roark]

Following Jesus’ example
Following Jesus’ example
Following Jesus’ example
Following Jesus’ example
Following Jesus’ example
Following Jesus’ example
Following Jesus’ example
Following Jesus’ example
Following Jesus’ example
Following Jesus’ example

Please consider that before lodging any criticisms of the celibate Priesthood…especially the kind of criticism that has words like “abnormal” or “impossible” in it.

 

[jmcrae]

I really think being chaste all your life leaves too much temptation in your life. I think it leads open the possibility for sexual abuse and sex scandals that may not occur if the priest had a wife he could go home to allieviate some of those desires.

There is a huge difference between sexual abuse and married sex.

Married people actually commit more than three times the amount of sexual abuse, including crimes against children and teenagers, than single people, so, based on statistics, if we want to avoid the problem of sexual abuse, it’s actually better to insist that they remain single.

 

[Sublime_Prince]

There is a huge difference between sexual abuse and married sex.

Married people actually commit more than three times the amount of sexual abuse, including crimes against children and teenagers, than single people, so, based on statistics, if we want to avoid the problem of sexual abuse, it’s actually better to insist that they remain single.

Well if your theory holds water please explain then how come all the sex scandals seem primarily coming from celebate priests, and why I never hear about married ministers commiting sex crimes? The evidence would seem to be pointing to its better for a priest/minister to be married.

 

[SIA]

I see SIA beat me too it (no.667),Anyways… SIA, Catholicism is the religion of Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition…but you already knew that.

Holy Scripture (the Bible), the Church (the Magisterium and the Pope) and Tradition.

Peace

No, Catholicism is the religion of Scripture, Tradition and Magisterium all equal in authority. Anglicanism is the religion of Scripture, Tradition and Reason in that particular order of authority.

 

[mercygate]

Well if your theory holds water please explain then how come all the sex scandals seem primarily coming from celebate priests, and why I never hear about married ministers commiting sex crimes? The evidence would seem to be pointing to its better for a priest/minister to be married.

If you google around, you will see that sexual abuse of young people is perpetrated across the board among clergy, both married and celibate, and across all denominations. The incidence of claims against Catholic Priests is among the lowest.

School teachers are at the top of the list. But there are laws that you cannot sue a school system (!?).

You see/hear more about sexual abuse in the Catholic Church because the world is pruriently interested in celibacy and because the Catholic Church, as an organization, is a much larger target for legal assault. You would never get any multi-million-dollar settlements out of “Main Street Free Gospel Church.”

 

[jmcrae]

Well if your theory holds water please explain then how come all the sex scandals seem primarily coming from celebate priests, and why I never hear about married ministers commiting sex crimes? The evidence would seem to be pointing to its better for a priest/minister to be married.

Because it’s “news” when a Catholic priest does it, because of the fact that it’s unexpected, for priests to do it.

It’s not “news” when a married person or a non-Catholic does it, in the same way that “dog bites man” is not “news.”

“Man bites dog” (ie: something that you don’t expect) is a basic definition of “news.”

 

[BSHoop96]

I really think being chaste all your life leaves too much temptation in your life. I think it leads open the possibility for sexual abuse and sex scandals that may not occur if the priest had a wife he could go home to allieviate some of those desires.

I’m sorry but this is just so wrong. A sexual deviate is a sexual deviate whether he has someone at home or not.