High-ranking US Jesuit: Married priests would be healthy for the Church

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I would like to see celibacy stay. People are commenting on the comments section on Crux regarding the number of Priests, but vocations are increasing in some places, so perhaps seminaries that are struggling to attract vocations, should look at the places were vocations are increasing, and see what it is that they are doing that is different, if anything.

Deacon Greg Kandra said:
There is, of course, a difference between married men becoming priests, and men who are priests getting married. The church has a long tradition of the former, and has never allowed the latter. Garanzini knows that. It would have been helpful if that had been made clear.
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patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2015/08/loyola-chancellor-calls-for-married-priests/
 
thejeopardyfan said:
I’m sharing this as far and wide as I can. What do we think? I find it highly encouraging! cruxnow.com/church/2015/08/18/high-ranking-us-jesuit-married-priests-would-be-healthy-for-the-church/
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I think a better title for this thread, based on that article, would be “Married priests already!” Because the article points out several legitimate kinds of married Catholic priests, including Eastern Catholic married priests and married Protestant pastors who convert to the Catholic Church.

For my part, I doubt that Pope Francis wants to drop the general rule. Even in the article, where he was quoted as saying “the door is always open” because “it’s not a dogma,” that doesn’t suggest that he thinks anything is different now than it has been in the past. In the past thousand-ish years the Church hasn’t changed the general rule, and from that quote it doesn’t look like the pope thinks the circumstances have changed. So yeah, there’s room for discussion, but I don’t think he plans to change this rule.
 
I do not want to see married priests, and this is coming from someone who is considering the priesthood. However, I do like seeing exemptions being given for married men who are former Anglican and Lutheran pastors.
 
thejeopardyfan said:
I’m sharing this as far and wide as I can. What do we think? I find it highly encouraging!
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So… let’s see if I have this straight: a guy who isn’t part of the Vatican says he wouldn’t be surprised if Pope Francis lifts the requirement of celibacy for priests? And, this is encouraging, exactly… why, again? 😉
 
As there are married priests already, in various circumstances, then how can it be wrong if extended to all priests? Since the Church considers it acceptable for some, why not acceptable for all?

Just my opinion!
 
The definition of “soon” historically is quite elastic concerning Rome. That said, there does seem to be increasing visibility of the concept of ordaining “viri probati” to the priesthood, such men likely including experienced - and married - deacons, who would require no financial support or housing from the Church, whose family is grown, who has a proven track record in ministry, and in many cases are retired and therefore free of job time conflicts. Something to think about.
 
captainrick said:
As there are married priests already, in various circumstances, then how can it be wrong if extended to all priests? Since the Church considers it acceptable for some, why not acceptable for all?

Just my opinion!
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For the most part, married priesthood was common until about a thousand years ago. Then, for political and pastoral reasons, celibacy was extended to all priests. Married priests aren’t “wrong” per se, but it’s a discipline of the church. If Pope Francis thought it was most pastoral, he could scrap celibacy altogether if he wanted.

Because priesthood and marriage aren’t entirely mutually exclusive, rare exemptions are allowed for priests of the Anglican Church who are returning to Rome.
 
As others point out having married men become priests is not an impossibility. I think there is much benefit in having celibate priests. But if they were to change the discipline I would hope they would not do it as a solution to the vocation crisis. In other words it would be a good idea only when you have an abundance of priests. The reason being relaxing the rules is not a good idea when the church is weak. It only is good only when the church is strong.

This is proven time and time again and not just in the Catholic Church. If you look at Protestant denominations many started ordaining women with the idea this would lead to more ministers. But it never did. That is because the reason they had a dearth of ministers was lack of conviction. Increasing numbers doesn’t solve the problem of less faith.
 
What did the Early Fathers of the Church say about married clergy?
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The Church Fathers of the first four centuries consistently spoke against the married priesthood (Eusibius, Augustine, Tertullian, Origen, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, St. Jerome etc.). St. Epiphanius speaks of the accepted ecclesiastical rule of the priesthood (kanona tes ierosynes) as something established by the Apostles. (Haer., xlviii, 9)
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“Holy Church respects the dignity of the priesthood to such a point that she [the Church]
does not admit to the diaconate, the priesthood, or the episcopate, nor even to the subdiaconate, anyone still living in marriage and begetting children.” (Haer., lix, 4).
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The writings of the Church fathers show that, in the early Church, married priests were not the accepted norm in the main centres of Alexandria, Antioch and Rome. They were considered a “problem” that existed in the outlying regions. By the third century there were almost no married priests and several councils put the issue to rest until around the 9th century when many bishops and priests took wives and had children. The state of the priesthood fell to an all time low. A huge problem emerged with priests “willing” Church property to their families. Up to that point, the principle of celibacy was never completely surrendered in the official enactments of the Church. In 1123, celibacy was made official, although, throughout history there have been scattered instances of abuses of the Canon Law, the Roman Catholic Church has consistently stuck to this position on celibate priests.
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catholicbridge.com/catholic/why_priests_cant_marry.php#Fathers

Why Not Married Priests? The Case for Clerical Celibacy: catholiceducation.org/en/controversy/common-misconceptions/why-not-married-priests-the-case-for-clerical-celibacy.html
Another practical consideration is the financial cost of allowing priests to marry. The average salary of a diocesan priest is $20,000, and living arrangements in a parish rectory allow for many economies. Married priests would most likely want to live outside the rectory, would need much higher salaries to support a family, and there would be an exponential increase in insurance costs. Where would the money come from? As it is, many parishes can barely pay their bills. Will Catholics in the pews be willing to significantly increase their weekly contributions? The answer is that some will, but many will not, and too many parishes would find themselves in an even deeper financial hole.
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The most insistent argument for a married clergy is that it would cure the shortage of priests. The reasons for the decline in the number of clergy are too numerous to go into here. Almost every Catholic shares some of the blame. On the institutional side, there’s the past situation in many seminaries and the refusal of some diocesan vocation directors to present the priesthood in its full spiritual dimension, which includes the challenge of celibacy. If you look around today, it is striking which dioceses (for example, Denver) have plentiful vocations. They raise the bar very high and, taking a page from John Paul II, present celibacy as a great spiritual gift. In contrast, some dioceses, until recently, held out to seminarians the possibility of a reversal of the rule of celibacy; they certainly did not present celibacy in a positive light. Those dioceses with near-empty seminaries might want to look at those that are doing it right. They will find among other things a vibrant orthodoxy and a theologically rich understanding of the call to celibacy.
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captainrick said:
As there are married priests already, in various circumstances, then how can it be wrong if extended to all priests? Since the Church considers it acceptable for some, why not acceptable for all?

Just my opinion!
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You’re assuming a homogeneous quantity here and because of the diversity of cultures involved, I don’t think a particular discipline can be applied to all. But I’m not the Pope.
 
captainrick said:
As there are married priests already, in various circumstances, then how can it be wrong if extended to all priests? Since the Church considers it acceptable for some, why not acceptable for all?

Just my opinion!
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In the case of converts you have people already bound by marriage which you can not dissolve to enter the Church and you have the mark of ordination which also is permanent. When someone is already Catholic, they can enter the priesthood without the encumbrance of marriage.

ANY MARRIED DEACONS OUT THERE, can you share a little bit about the difficulties of being married clergy with children? I think it must be tough especially for the children. ANY PRIEST OUT THERE, do you want to give up celibacy?

Marriage is a great and beautiful sacrament. I’d try it myself if a husband did come with it.:whacky:
 
exnihilo said:
The reason being relaxing the rules is not a good idea when the church is weak. It only is good only when the church is strong.
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Great point, except I would not say now that the “Church is weak.”

It is not weak, but it has been under attack for two generations in the Atlantic nations, in large part by the “sexual revolution.” You do not accede to your opponent while under attack.

If Vatican I had done away with celibacy, that might have been fine, and if a future pope does away with it that too might be fine; but at a time when “sexual happiness” is perceived as the prime directive in human life, now is not the time. The witness of celibacy is needed now more than ever.

ICXC NIKA
 
I had never encountered a married priest until about 13 years ago. I was shocked when I was told my sons preschool teacher was Fathers wife? I thought I had heard them wrong of course. I later learned of his conversion and large family of children and grandchildren. Sadly, he was moved to another parish after a number of years. He was well loved and respected, and if you can have a favorite priest, he was it! I miss him very much.

After that experience, my views on the priesthood changed, and I pray that one day our priests have the option of being married.
 
GEddie said:
If Vatican I had done away with celibacy, that might have been fine, and if a future pope does away with it that too might be fine; but at a time when “sexual happiness” is perceived as the prime directive in human life, now is not the time. The witness of celibacy is needed now more than ever.
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Bingo! Setting aside those individuals whose vocation prohibits them from marrying, the Chuch there are an awful lot of people who also have to go without romance. A joyful, celibate clergy not only has practical benefits (in terms of finances and availability) but can be a powerful witness for those who are not celibate by choice.
 
Thanks, _Abyssinia. That was a good idea about changing the thread title.
Gorgias said:
So… let’s see if I have this straight: a guy who isn’t part of the Vatican says he wouldn’t be surprised if Pope Francis lifts the requirement of celibacy for priests? And, this is encouraging, exactly… why, again? 😉
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Considering the miracle this change would take, I’m very happy with the idea even being talked about. 🙂
 
thejeopardyfan said:
Thanks, _Abyssinia. That was a good idea about changing the thread title.

Considering the miracle this change would take, I’m very happy with the idea even being talked about. 🙂
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What miracle? HH could make that change with the slash of a pen.

But as it would have no real benefit to the Church and enormous costs, I’d not hold my breath waiting for it.

ICXC NIKA
 
I believe that much would be lost if the requirement of celibacy were removed for Latin Rite Priests.

It may not be dogma but the celibate priesthood is a beautiful and theological expression of Christ’s relation to the Church. Beyond that, it is practically sound.

I don’t think we have anything to worry about though.
 
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