rayray81: “Could you see the Roman Rite allowing something along the lines of what the Eastern Churches allow. Married men becoming ordained. But if your a priest already then you can’t get married.”
This is my feel: no. The parish structure in a Latin Rite parish does not make it feasible to have married priests, like the Eastern Churches have. RC parishes are waaaaay too big, pure and simple. As is often brought up about married RC clergy that have converted to the Church, it is not condusive to married life. One must keep in mind that where married clergy in Eastern Churches are the norm (in the mother countries) the parishes are much smaller (they are very small here as well, even smaller than in the Old Country), and typically 100-300 families (how many RC parishes can you name that are that size?). Also, the Priest is not the only cleric in residence. There is sometimes a Deacon (whose primary task is the worldy administration of the parish), usually Minor Order clerics-a Reader, a Cantor (both of who often are the main leaders in the parish, also they are in charge of catechesis), and in some locals, a Sextant (who lived at the church to ensure that it was always open, but no one would harm anything, and also act as sacristan). The Priest leads the sacramental and liturgical life of the parish-he is responsible first and foremost of safeguarding the Eucharist (this is explicitly mentioned in the ordination rite for the priesthood in the Byzantine Rite), and leading the congregation in worship, not only of Divine Liturgy, but also of Vespers and Orthros (a composite service of Nocturns, Matins of two varieties, and Lauds), and whatever service or blessing needs to be done. Even the Mystery of Divine Repentence (Confession) and preaching are really not high priorities strictly speaking, as not all Priests have the faculties (are permitted by the bishop) to do these things (one will only see this among the Orthodox in Greece and Russia, and other places, and only rarely here, pretty much all Catholic Priests are givien these faculties).
So the point: the role of the Priest has a slightly different emphasis, and whatever needs to be done in a parish, outside of the Sacraments and liturgical worship, properly is not for the Priest in an Eastern parish, but is for others, though the Priest does (or should) have the final say in all matters, though he may not actively participate in these other things. All these factors more readily allows for the Priest to have more time, time that he can devote to his family. Of course, in the RC parish setting, the flock is much, much larger, and the clerical staff is much smaller or non-existant, and he has many more responsibilities and demands to meet. (BTW, in Eastern Catholic parishes practice in the USA, things tend to be closer to this latter statement in emulation of the Latin Church, though we are slowing returning to our proper ways.)
In Christ,
Adam
