C
Cathdefender
Guest
I am ashamed you call yourself a Catholic.
- Status
C
Cathdefender
Guest
**www.reformation.com and what have you to say about THESE hundreds of pastors from other denominations?? Are these acts not disgusting?? Point being is it is in every religion, not just the Catholic church. I don’t appreciate you bashing the Catholic church when you DON’T KNOW your facts. **
V
Valke2
Guest
Haven’t read through the posts. But is there any downside, assuming the Church would allow it?
I
impalass
Guest
These are the facts. Some people like you just don’t want to hear the truth. Put your head back in the sand.
So as a good catholic what have you done to help these molested victims by priests. What have you done? Nothing! you defend the priests. Shame on you! Sad Sad Sad!!
Yes priests should have the option to marry. It works well in other CHRISTIAN faiths and their followers are quite content with the results.
Y
Yerusalyim
Guest
You have the part about base salary correct. Most, but not all, get free rent…most do NOT have free board. Some get a car allowance, some don’t, it’s up to the Parish. Dental plans, health care and especially pensions are NOT included in most priests compensation. The ones I have spoken to pay their own pensions. SOME priests do quite well on the stipends…some do not…you’d be surprised by the number of times I’ve seen people NOT give a stipend to a priest for a wedding, or a funeral, or a baptism done outside mass…and the stipend can not be required. On Christmas some priests do VERY WELL with the gifts they recieve.
C
Cathdefender
Guest
There were many priests who were accused FALSELY. I am still waiting on your answer about the other pastors.
A
AgnosTheist
Guest
Obviously, it would be quite an expensive restructuring of the clergy.
Plus, the RCC would admit their mistake. A huge cost to their pride.
A
adstrinity
Guest
How so?
No.
No, the Church teaches that we get judged, and depening on that particular judgement, we either go to Hell, Purgatory and then Heaven, or Heaven. Judgement Day is a whole nother day.
That’s not the Church’s, either. Purgatory is where one goes who is destined for Heaven but must be purged of all sins and desires of creatures before being made perfect for Heaven.
The Chruch never taught this. It was a theory held by some in the Church. This was never an official teaching. This was never dogma.
Priests do have the option to marry; it is called discernment. If they decide they want to raise a family instead of minister to a congregation, they can leave the priesthood. Protestant ministers do not have the responsibilities Catholic priests do. If, IF the majority of Catholics do not follow many of the teachings of the church, something IS wrong; those Catholics need to learn what the Church teaches and correct themselves to the Teachings accordingly.
J
jmcrae
Guest
This reminds me of a joke:
An anti-Catholic Protestant dies and goes to the Judgment Day. God says to him, “I have some good news and some bad news for you.” Then he shows him Hell, and says, “See? There is no one in Hell except for Catholics.” “YAAY,” says the Protestant, “No Protestants in Hell!!”
“Well,” says God, "Take a look at Heaven. There is no one in Heaven except for Catholics, either. It is time for you to convert, my son … "
E
estesbob
Guest
You will be relieved to know that is not the belief of the Church , either.
I
impalass
Guest
Yes priests should have the option to marry. Who are the hundreds of pastors from other denominations. Were talking thousands of priests from the catholic church not hundreds, and lets not forget protestants outnumber catholics over 2:1 in the USA. and catholic priests charged are right up there. In the news all the time. Its sad but true.
F A C T S: Bankruptcy…Diocese of Spokane Washington Bishop Sklstad. Millions in debt sex abuse scandal…Arch Diocese of Oregon bankruptcy same thing…Diocese of Tuscon Arizona bankrupt.same…Diocese of San Diego California Bishop Brom $100 owing in lawsuits…Canada St. George Diocese in province of newfoundland Canada. Bankrupt…these have all occured in the past 2 -3 years. How many more to come? These are facts my friend. Not slamming the church just presenting factual information that all should know. Being honest. Thats what a good person is.
Y
Yerusalyim
Guest
Salaries would have to increase…not too expensive.
The RCC currently has thousands of married priests, and has always maintained this is a matter of DISCIPLINE…so no “mistake” IS admited to, nor cost of pride.
C
Cantaloupe
Guest
This website should explain everything. Americanism is a heresy! We as a church are not to conform to our culture. The church is what it is because of God not because of man. The church lives on and on, man does not. CNN knows nothing of the Catholic faith, or teachings. And if you think priests should be married then you know nothing of the faith either. Do not conform to the times in which we live. Conform your life into the church.
fisheaters.com/testembenevolentiaenostra.html
fisheaters.com/testembenevolentiaenostra.html
I
impalass
Guest
If priests were allowed to marry whats wrong with increasing salaries?. People negotiate contracts everyday for the jobs they have. I would have no problem with that? The system works well in other CHRISTIAN faiths.
Y
Yerusalyim
Guest
I said there was something wrong with increasing salaries? Priests earn more than they get paid as it is. In the Orthodox Church of America each priest negotiates his salary with the Parish…I’m not sure how our Catholic brethern that allow married priests handle the situation. Most protestant ministers are also not making much money…though some do quite well. RABBIS do great for the most part.
D
dosdog
Guest
Survey: Protestant majority disappearing in the USA
Between 1993 and 2002, the share of Americans who said they were Protestant dropped from 63% to 52%, after years of remaining generally stable, according to a study released Tuesday by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.
usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-07-20-survey-protestants_x.htm
Protestant churches struggle to fill pulpits
Protestant leaders in the past five years have been anxiously discussing shortages in their own ranks.
Reasons for shortages
Protestant church officials cite many factors for why people choose not to go into ministry, including more interest in high-paying professions, the cost of attending seminary, a failure by churches to recruit and a growing secular mindset in society.
Denominational leaders also say many ministers simply have burned out. Church dissension, combined with low pay and long hours, is “chewing up and spitting out wonderful people of God,” said a 1999 study in one denomination, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The study found one-fifth of pastors in advanced stages of burnout; other denominations acknowledge similar problems.
Factory job losses there are making it harder for church members to afford pastors’ salaries or for pastors to find secular jobs that could supplement those salaries.
Many smaller churches now share pastors or rely on lay pastors or retirees. Lay pastors, depending on the denomination, get less training than seminarians and they often are restricted in where and how they can work.
Seminaries that once attracted “the best and the brightest” now “take almost all who apply, whether or not they show high promise for ministry,” wrote Barbara Wheeler, president of Auburn Theological Seminary, which surveyed seminaries in 1998.
In many seminaries, the admission requirement became that “you had to have in range of a 98.6 temperature,” said R. Robert Cueni, president of Lexington Theological Seminary.
usatoday.com/news/religion/2004-04-21-clergy-gns_x.htm
time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1666552,00.html?imw=Y
J
jmcrae
Guest
An increase in salaries would mean that the people in the pews would have to start putting real money in the collection plate; not just a fiver every now and again, but a real tithe, given off the top of every single paycheque.
C
Cantaloupe
Guest
If you ask a priest why he is a priest, ususally they answer because it is his life. Priesthood not just a regular job, it is a vocation, it is for life. It is the way he lives. Priesthood is who he is…
Y
Yerusalyim
Guest
Agreed, Catholics would need to start putting money into the collection. Some Catholics DO tithe.
R
rinnie
Guest
No. The Lord said you can only serve on Master. To be a Priest you are dedicated fully to Christ and his word. You are married to him and his Church only. Think about it, how could a priest be a Father, husband, Dad, Grandfather etc. and still be there for everyone of us. Its impossible. Also on the lighter side you know how mad a women can make her husband, could you imagine telling Father your problems just after his got butt chewed by his wife. Nope not a good idea. A priest has to give last rites and must be on call twenty four hours a day, Its the oath he takes. Look how much they have to do as it is. When a Priest takes this oath his promise is to the people. They really dont have a life they have given up that right to serve God only. They are really pretty special people and I thank GOd every day for leaving them for us.
- Status