Priests and marriage.

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HalfAngel_18

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I was wondering why priests can’t get married. Does it say so in the Bible? (if so where?)
 
It is implied in the scriptures and is more importantly preserved in the Holy Tradition. Only male disciples were chosen, and everyone who was selected for the office of bishop by the placing of hands has been male in an unbroken chain up to our present hierarchy.

There are many explanations as to why only men were chosen, but what is most important is the fact that it is has been preserved in Holy Tradition.
 
also to note that up until about the 15th century, catholic priests could marry.
 
HalfAngel_18 said:
But why is it they don’t marry today? (what’s the holy tradition, just the tradition of the church?)
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I’m not going to give you the right answer because I do not have the information in front of me. If memory serves, and this may sound a little harsh, but you cannot have two entities vying for your attention. Although many will say that they are in happy, fruitful marriages and are still great Catholics, the difference is in truly serving the Lord and your flock.

Again, I’m going to reiterate that I do not have the answer at my disposal. I will research it and let you know if no one jumps in here first.
 
TemplarKnight said:
also to note that up until about the 15th century, catholic priests could marry.
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TemplarKnight said:
I’m not going to give you the right answer because I do not have the information in front of me. If memory serves, and this may sound a little harsh, but you cannot have two entities vying for your attention. Although many will say that they are in happy, fruitful marriages and are still great Catholics, the difference is in truly serving the Lord and your flock.

Again, I’m going to reiterate that I do not have the answer at my disposal. I will research it and let you know if no one jumps in here first.
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Thanks.🙂
 
Just a friendly reminder before this thread gets into too much depth:

There is a HUGE difference between a priest marrying and a married man becoming a priest – not even close to being the same thing!

I point this out because I’ve seen other threads on this very topic degenerate into arguments because of the semantics employed; lots of folks talking right past each other. Might be wise to ensure that we’re using the terminology we actually intend to use.

…carry on…

😉
 
As pointed out earlier, celibacy was not a requirement until half way through the second millennium. Mandatory celibacy is a *discipline *in the Latin rite of the Catholic church. This means that it may be relaxed, eliminated, or altered at the will of the hierarchy.

Matthew
 
TemplarKnight said:
also to note that up until about the 15th century, catholic priests could marry.
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I do not think this is the case. Priests in the Orthodox, Eastern Rites and the Latin Rite were never allowed to get married. The men however could be ordained if they were already married but NEVER allowed to get married after ordination.

Now married men in the Eastern Church and the Orthodox can be ordained to the priesthood and diaconate. In the Latin rite however this is not so. Ordination to the Permanent Diaconate however can be given to married men… However in both cases- if the wife dies they cannot remarry.

Correct me if I am wrong…

Ken
 
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