Pope says favors celibacy for priests but door open to change

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shelby_sun said:
Sorry to bring this up but too many priest have done terrible things to children over many years, so I think this has to be at least looked into. The bottom line is we need priest and good ones, if that means allowing married priests into the Church, it may just be a blessing, especially if we start with allowing deacons to become priest. They would certainly know what the role entails and how the family would have to sacrifice.
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It is an interesting topic to discuss but we need to provide the benefit of a married Roman Catholic priest compare to those who live in a celibacy life at the moment. Furthermore, I definitely disagree with your quote, “Sorry to bring this up but too many priest have done terrible things to children over many years”. Please do your research on other denominations and see how many married pastors ‘done terrible things to children’.
Our children at public school are more prudent to violent caused by the teachers than priests. Thus, a non-celibacy personnel would not solve the crime against our children. In 95% of cases, the sexual abuse offender is known to the child; that is they are a relative or trusted friend. Only 5% of child sexual assault cases are ‘stranger danger’.
(Child Protection Council, 1993).
Most of our catholic schools and many parishes have been closed because of financial hardship. We cannot afford to pay the priests wages of an average $18000.00 annually. Can you imagine if we have married priests with children?
Deacon is a non-paid clergy, unless the deacon is teaching or working in a prison…etc. The parish does not pay the deacon to provide spiritual and pastoral service for the parishioners.
Shalom!
 
Yes, the door is open for the new application of celibacy rules. Those who fornicate and thus cause the spread of venereal diseases and cause the births of semi crippled or crippled babies because of the venereal diseases inflicted on their mothers and cause the scourge of infanticide of pre-born children and cause the generations of emotionally dislocated one parent children can stop doing so and become celibate.
 
rugbyref said:
It is an interesting topic to discuss but we need to provide the benefit of a married Roman Catholic priest compare to those who live in a celibacy life at the moment. Furthermore, I definitely disagree with your quote, “Sorry to bring this up but too many priest have done terrible things to children over many years”. Please do your research on other denominations and see how many married pastors ‘done terrible things to children’.
Our children at public school are more prudent to violent caused by the teachers than priests. Thus, a non-celibacy personnel would not solve the crime against our children. In 95% of cases, the sexual abuse offender is known to the child; that is they are a relative or trusted friend. Only 5% of child sexual assault cases are ‘stranger danger’.
(Child Protection Council, 1993).
Most of our catholic schools and many parishes have been closed because of financial hardship. We cannot afford to pay the priests wages of an average $18000.00 annually. Can you imagine if we have married priests with children?
Deacon is a non-paid clergy, unless the deacon is teaching or working in a prison…etc. The parish does not pay the deacon to provide spiritual and pastoral service for the parishioners.
Shalom!
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Yes, I know other denomination have abuse that does not make the abuse in the Catholic Church, no matter how much less it is, any more acceptable. We need to focus on our Church not others.

Yes I agree with you about the salary, which is why I think deacons who are retired would be a good place to start. They would already have their retirement to live off of, well if they were responsible. Married men who have wive that may work maybe possible The kids would get a private education for free. I am certainly not saying the Church should bring them in by the thousands, but I do think there is a place for them in our Church.
 
commenter said:
True. But why not? Eastern Catholics and Eastern Orthodox don’t allow priests to marry. I assume that is (changeable) discipline, not dogma. I wonder about the rationale. Is it because flirting, dating, courtship, etc is such an uncertain process that the distraction and tension would be incompatible with priesthood? As a layman I could believe that (33rd anniversary today).

In a way, the argument for celibacy is stronger than a few decades ago. Catholic marriage and family life is under far greater stress. The percent of married men with marital problems seems higher than the percentage of priests with obvious vocational problems. The Church has a responsibility to protect both sacraments, not just Holy Orders. In the local Episcopal diocese, their clergy divorce rate has gone way up.

What we need is more information about the experience of married priests in the Eastern Churches; not just how they are doing as priests but as husbands and fathers. What strengths, and weaknesses, seem to be common in their family life? What are the positives here?
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Congratulations on the anniversary! I’m getting married next week, had our final meeting with the priest yesterday.

I agree with your post. I go back and forth on this issue very frequently but don’t really have a lot invested in it since I’m not a priest. But you make a good point that I hadn’t thought of. The state of marriage is in a bad way right now. If they ever allow married men to become priests I think it would be wiser to wait until things are more stable.
 
shelby_sun said:
Yes, I know other denomination have abuse that does not make the abuse in the Catholic Church, no matter how much less it is, any more acceptable. We need to focus on our Church not others.
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No-One is defending what happened with some priests in the past, only pointing out that these things happen whether there is celibacy or not. Therefore, “Let the priests get married!” is not an answer to it. Increased participation by the adult laity, so that there is more supervision, in youth-oriented ministry might be.

ICXC NIKA.
 
tiwarilady12 said:
What may have happened with some children is a not a result of priests’ celibacy. There are secular people in society that are married and still molest and abuse children, sometimes even their own children. Marriage is not a solution to such problems nor should such a holy sacrament ever be viewed as a solution for release of pent up sexual energy. People, not just priests, need to learn to control their sexual cravings. Those that prey on children have the choice to carry out their sexual pleasures with consenting adults, even so far as hiring prostitutes (which is still sinful and should be avoided) but just goes to show that anyone (regardless of priesthood) who uses children for such purposes has serious issues both mentally and spiritually.

Furthermore, being a priest is not a job or career. It is a vocation, a calling, a sacrifice. It is called a sacrifice because it is an alternate lifestyle that calls an individual to leave behind many of the typical pleasures of a secular lifestyle. It is a calling to a life of devotion. A priest must be able to fully devote his life to the Lord and be focused enough to be a leader to his parish or those who have been placed within his path to counsel and care for. While marriage is also a holy sacrament, it’s purpose is to create a blessed union between two people. Much focus within a marriage should be on the health and well being of those people and their children with faith and guidance from the Lord. Holy Orders is a sacrament with the purpose of further uniting a person to our Lord. They should be free of the distractions that come with tending to a typical spouse and family. The Lord is their spouse and the church is their family. They have chosen that over the alternate. Priesthood is not a job one would get up in the morning and leave their family to go do and clock out of at the end of the day. It is a lifestyle - 24 hrs 365 days and requires true focus.

If there are priests who want to become married, they may need to take time to self reflect and seek counsel from the Holy Spirit as they may be misunderstanding their true calling. Maybe they should be married and not be a priest - priesthood is not for everyone. Or maybe they should be remain a priest but need to come to terms with (through God’s grace) what they are sacrificing.

As a whole, we need to be supportive of priests and the difficult vocation they have chosen to devote their lives to and help to encourage them to focus on their one true mission, true spouse and true family.
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I agree with you. There are a lot of people I know who think overwise. They think that sexual frustration leads to pedophilia.
 
Commentators have noted it was the married clergy of Eastern Orthodox churches that folded in the face of Russia’s incursions because of their fear for their families. Christ said there are those who are born eunuchs, those that are made eunuchs by men, but He desires “spiritual eunuchs” and those with ears to hear heed Him. Word up. +:)
 
J_Peterson said:
Congratulations on the anniversary! I’m getting married next week, had our final meeting with the priest yesterday.

I agree with your post. I go back and forth on this issue very frequently but don’t really have a lot invested in it since I’m not a priest. But you make a good point that I hadn’t thought of. The state of marriage is in a bad way right now. If they ever allow married men to become priests I think it would be wiser to wait until things are more stable.
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Congratulations on your own marriage. I will certainly pray for you, and for all those getting married this season.
 
rcuk said:
I think that celibacy brings real heroes into the priesthood. Being a priest is no easy thing. It takes real courage and sacrifice. But this puts these men ahead of the lay people, at least in principle, as they are carefully choosing this vocation, and this path to holiness.

To me, this raises priests to where they need to be, especially in that they take on the person of Christ in the Eucharist and offer the mass.

Priests should be holy. While being celibate doesn’t make them more holy, it shows the man strives for holiness and sacrifices. While marriage means sacrifice, the choice of vocation to priesthood means a lot more sacrifice. Marriage binds us to another. Priesthood binds the priest into the family of the church and the hierarchy, of course; but this can still be a lonely place for a person.

Like marriage, the priest plays a supporting role. But, he is THE supporting role in his parish. I believe by being celibate, he is more perfectly able to offer himself and his service- fulfilling his vocation to the fullest extent as shepherd to his flock.
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Well put. I think the Pope just made another statement before he thought it through
 
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