Do you think priests should be allowed to marry?

[Cathdefender]

There were no popes who were married and fathered many children. You’re in a fantasy world.

 

[kalt]

Why do people keep asking this question! No,no,no. Its been no for the pope, and he has stated that it will “never” happen. This question goes along with women-priests.

Not really. Celibacy is only a discipline. It can be changed at any time. Priests were allowed to marry in the past, and I don’t doubt that will be allowed to again.

It makes no difference to me either way. It might be a way to attract more new priests. It would be very expensive, I think, since we would be paying health care for the priest and his family. They would need a private home.

I don’t see the rule changing any time soon, but I have not objection to changing it.

 

[BSHoop96]

There were no popes who were married and fathered many children. You’re in a fantasy world.

Cathfinder…you know I consider myself to be “on your side” but some of the early Popes I believe were married before they were ordained. Also some of the early Popes fathered illegitimate children at least after ordination into the priesthood, not to mention that some popes, let’s just say, were not great popes. Anyone who studies church history knows that the Church has had imperfect people and I’m sure always will. We are all human after all. The miracle is that the Church survives these times, will ALWAYS survive these times. These people should not be used as a judgment against the whole Church just as a priest involved in a sexual scandal should not be used to judge the whole Church.

 

[AmbroseSJ]

Yes, I think they should be permitted to BE married, but not TO marry once ordained as in the early Church. I also think we need to move away from “seminary priests” and move back to minor orders for laity, with priests being ordained from within that stock.

 

[Yerusalyim]

There were no popes who were married and fathered many children. You’re in a fantasy world.

Many children? Questionable, but One pope fwho was married athered a child who in turn himself became Pope some time later. There were at least 12 Popes we know were married, and perhaps the 39 being bantied about.

 

[BSHoop96]

Yes, I think they should be permitted to BE married, but not TO marry once ordained as in the early Church. I also think we need to move away from “seminary priests” ***and move back to minor orders for laity, ***with priests being ordained from within that stock.

I believe we have something like that already in the permanent diaconate. I personally think we need seminary priests though. If we keep “watering down” the Church we will no longer have the Catholic church.

 

[jmcrae]

I believe we have something like that already in the permanent diaconate. I personally think we need seminary priests though. If we keep “watering down” the Church we will no longer have the Catholic church.

Yes, I think so, too. Most Deacons don’t know their Catholic theology very well, and unfortunately, for some reason that is beyond my ken, they also seem to be reading from Protestant preaching manuals, which makes for some bizarre homilies, at times.

 

[allhers]

For the record, I do NOT believe priests should be allowed to Marry in most circumstances, but I strongly believe that married men should be allowed to be ordained.

Rinnie,

There were married Popes other than Peter, and married men being ordained was the norm for the first 600 years or so and it didn’t become universally required in the Latin Rite until the 12th Century.

Here’s something I’m not sure you’re grasping, the Catholic Church is made of of several (26?) different Rites…all of which are faithful to and obedient to Rome and the Pope…the Latin Rite of that Church is what most in this forum belong to. Of those Rites I’m unaware of any others that require celibacy for ordination, and I’m certain several of them ordain married men. So, when you say Roman Catholic priests aren’t married, you’re incorrect…because all these other Rites are also Roman Catholic, but not of the Latin Rite

Here’s the other thing I think some aren’t grasping…the matter of celibacy is not DOCTRINE, it’s DISCIPLINE…the Pope could begin allowing the ordination of married men Tomorrow. Celibacy for ordination is NOT a divine mandate.

.

Yes, most Jewish men were married, but with VERY FEW exceptions a celibate marriage for a Jew was unheard of…why? The whole reason Jews married was because it was a RELIGIOUS MANDATE…they take seriously the commandment BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY. There is some historical arguement as to whether the Essenes were celibate, but I doubt it from my historical reading. FOLLOWING JESUS AND DOING HIS WILL DOES NOT REQUIRE CELEBACY and Christ never asked this of anyone.

But yet HE also choose St. John, the Virgin one (celibate) and St. John was HIS favorite, HE also left HIS Mother in St. John’s care. St. John was also the only one, along with Jesus’ Mother and some other women to stand with HIM at the foot of the Cross. Interesting, isn’t it?

 

[sambos671]

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??

I believe the need for celebacy is gone. The primary reason to have it to begin with is to reduce corruption by passing on property and titles to offspring. Europe is entirely different now.

 

[estesbob]

I believe the need for celebacy is gone. The primary reason to have it to begin with is to reduce corruption by passing on property and titles to offspring. Europe is entirely different now.

This argument was refuted about 200 posts ago. A Priest could then and can now leave his estate to anyone he wants whether he has children or not.

 

[adstrinity]

But yet HE also choose St. John, the Virgin one (celibate) and St. John was HIS favorite, HE also left HIS Mother in St. John’s care. St. John was also the only one, along with Jesus’ Mother and some other women to stand with HIM at the foot of the Cross. Interesting, isn’t it?

Hmmmm…that is good to note.

I was thinking about this before I went to sleep this moring, if priests are allowed/encouraged to marry before they become ordained, the new arguement will be, “Do you think priests should be allowed to divorce?”

 

[distracted]

Jesus was sent on earth as a man, priests must follow his example.

who says they must? The Church doesn’t even say that… celibacy in the priesthood is a discipline, not a doctrine…

 

[jmcrae]

Hmmmm…that is good to note.

I was thinking about this before I went to sleep this moring, if priests are allowed/encouraged to marry before they become ordained, the new arguement will be, “Do you think priests should be allowed to divorce?”

And then, can they receive Declarations of Nullity, and remarry?

I don’t think we should even start to consider the idea of married priests until we have solved the vocations crisis, both for marriage and for the priesthood.

 

[distracted]

For the record, I do NOT believe priests should be allowed to Marry in most circumstances, but I strongly believe that married men should be allowed to be ordained.

I am not sure there isn’t some kind of (unintentional) “hypocracy” here?? I do not understand why u make such a difference…

,

I’m certain several of them ordain married men. So, when you say Roman Catholic priests aren’t married, you’re incorrect…because all these other Rites are also Roman Catholic, but not of the Latin Rite

i thought roman and Latin were synonomous?

Here’s the other thing I think some aren’t grasping…the matter of celibacy is not DOCTRINE, it’s DISCIPLINE…the Pope could begin allowing the ordination of married men Tomorrow. Celibacy for ordination is NOT a divine mandate.

thank you for making that point that many here seem to be … ignoring.

they take seriously the commandment BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY.

Unlike Catholics of today…

FOLLOWING JESUS AND DOING HIS WILL DOES NOT REQUIRE CELEBACY and Christ never asked this of anyone.

A Big Amen to that!!

 

[distracted]

For the past generation I have heard like most of the extreme shortage of priests worldwide.  That is a fact(I know you don't like facts)  and the numbers are dwindling quickly.

I am somewhat un-decided on the priests celibacy being optional issue… but i do not think the priest shortage, by itself, should be the reason for changing things… Do you? i mean, do think that reason alone would suffice to change it, if nothing else?

I understand the vaticans stand on celibacy. I do understand that for various reasons there is a very high number of catholic priests that are struggling with their vocation. Many have left and many today are expressing themselves openly.

expressing themselves? What do you mean? I, personally, don’t appreciate how some priests are expressing themselves… (Greely, etc.)

This is where I have a problem with the church hierarchy. Instead of the pope/vatican trying to find out why priests are struggling the vatican continues this strong arm approach “do as we say” attitude.

i can see why you say that…
Before i go on, are you Catholic? catechized?
Anyway… it can seem like strong arm tactics but maybe it is not…(i say maybe)… maybe the pope knows things we don’t about all this?? It would be nice to know everything… it woiuld be nice to be God…

. Priests are just like the rest of us. I sympathize with them. They are in a position thats run by high authority that is not interested in their personal problems.

I sometimes get the feeling the higher ups in the Church don’t care about anyone’s personal problems… this statement you make hits a nerve for me… I have OFTEN felt, in the Church, un-loved, un-cared for, criticized (albeit subtly)… etc… In other words, i have not always found the Church to be very Christian… and yes, it does make me wonder about why i am so devout… I guess because the Church lifted me out of serious “dtich” i was in… (sin-wise)…
Anyway… What was the topic? Oh… yeah…

.

If the catholic church allows priests to marry in the eastern rite, and ex lutheran married men to become priests why not bend the rules a bit and go by the eastern rites rule.

This is what i was tending to think…

 centuries ago priests were allowed to get married.  The popes of that time had no issue with that.,    I believe a priest would have a much more healthy attitude towards his vocation if he had the option to marry. Its not natural to be celibate.

Someone else here made the point that it isn’t natural or un-natural, but supernatural to be celibate… well, i say it can be any combination of those 3… depending on the situation. I will bet good $ that most of the people on this forum who are against priestly celibacy are not, themselves celibate… and tht really does strike me as hypocritical… not to mention selfish and lacking in empathy… or sympathy…

 

[BSHoop96]

Yes, I think so, too. Most Deacons don’t know their Catholic theology very well, and unfortunately, for some reason that is beyond my ken, they also seem to be reading from Protestant preaching manuals, which makes for some bizarre homilies, at times.

We have two deacons, one priest, but the deacons don’t do many homilies at all. The few I have heard have been fine. I guess it depends what part of the country you are in (I’m in the heartland) and how they are trained and the priest. I think ours have quite a bit of training. My worry is that if you keep changing and changing pretty soon you won’t even recognize the Catholic church.

 

[distracted]

It does if you believe that the Pope is led by the Holy Spirit.

I believe that totally, but he is also a human being. And also… you probably did not intent to imply this, but it is almost as if you are implying that if a man is married, he can’t be so led by the Holy Spriit (as one who is celibate)…

If you believe what Jesus said when he said I will give you the words, then you will believe that he gives the Pope the words, to make these decisions.

yes, but, for one thing, the pope is only infallible under certain conditiions… and if he doesn’t apply himself to a particular issue (should i do something about this priest celibacy issue), then nothing will change… Maybe in not deciding to deal with the issue, he is being all to human? I mean, after all, he himself cannot ever marry, so maybe he feels tht others should be as he is? Nothing wrong with that… but again, he is human… and there may be some psychological reason or what have you that keeps him from even addressing the subject in the 1st place…

.

My faith in the Pope in truely unquestionable.

I tend not to question him much either… but after all i have been through, i find it is expedient to Question Everything… (just don’t necessarily question [whtever] to death…)

 

[distracted]

You sound like a fool and an ignorant person.

i feel this is out of line… and the bible tells us to call no one a fool, that to do so is to be “in danger of hellfire”…

You are here to instigate and nothing more. I laugh at all of your ridiculous posts.

and this… You don’t know a person’s motives…

 

[distracted]

There were no popes who were married and fathered many children. You’re in a fantasy world.

not true… maybe there were not “many”(?) but i know of at least one pope who fathered many children…

and one was even supposed to have committed murder…

It is my understanding that out of 265 popes, only 49 are canonized saints…

Of course, for any Protestant waiting to jump on those “facts”… it must be added that neither of the aforementioned popes ever TAUGHT that doing such things was OK with God…

 

[Cathdefender]

i feel this is out of line… and the bible tells us to call no one a fool, that to do so is to be “in danger of hellfire”…

and this… You don’t know a person’s motives…

So am I going to hell now distracted? Because if you say that I am, you are not to far behind.