That is a perfect explanation for the problem of sexual sin Janet… if only married people didn’t also commit the same sins. Has a married man never molested a child? Raped a women? Has a father never physically and sexually abused his child? Has there never been a single man who has never committed the same acts? The problem with these men who commit these crimes, these sins, is not that they are married or unmarried, but that they are fallen.
God bless
Don’t you think that fulfillment of this desire greatly reduces the chances simply lusting after a woman? This is not about the statistic of child molestation… this is about sins that only God can see. How can a healthy relationship with a partner not lead to an attitude that greatly reduces lusting after someone?
Don’t you agree that there is a need for young priests but only few actually answer the calling because they want to live in a healthy relationship? In Germany fewer and fewer priests are responsible for more and more parishes because there are simply not enough candidates. 4 or more parishes per priest should not be a standard (happens in the town I was raised in)… even 2 or more can already lead to a burn out. How do you expect the few that are available to handle this? How do you expect them to handle this without the loving support of a family?
And how can you expect someone who is living alone to understand the problems of marital communication to the fullest degree? Sure a priest understands a lot about faithfulness, but how could he ever understand the issues within a marriage? He surely can learn and study about the topic, but will he ever really know what is going on? Out of those priests that leave the ministry to get married many get divorced after a few years… They know with their intellect how to handle these situations, but they never seen the practical results. How can a man who has never been married successfully counsel a married couple? I know that you don’t have to be an adulterer to counsel one, but how can a priest ever understand marital life and communication?
How is it possible that other Christian groups can easily allow marriage of their pastors and reap the benefits while it seems to be impossible for the RCC? These pastors and priests are a good example of how it could be if celibacy was abolished. It works for the Eastern Catholic Church, so why does the RCC not learn from the benefits others have in this? The tradition, experience and infrastructure to handle married priests can be easily established. Why not learn from the experiences others have already made? I know that converting priests from other denominations (incl. the Eastern rite) can stay married and that they cannot remarry after their wives passed away. Why is it so complicated to allow marriage for all if it is already done for those men who become catholic priests from other denominational backgrounds?
Doesn’t it dishonor the sanctity of marriage if it is proclaimed that a priest has to stay unmarried? The priest is to be an example, why not also in the realm of families? He can definitely show how it ought to be done and be a living example if he is called to be a husband and a father.
Some are incapable of marriage, I know that, but those who are not should not be excluded from the service. They are the ones that can give examples to all the men in his parish on how to lead a godly life as a husband and father and his wife can do exactly the same for the women in the parish. It is not scriptural to deny those who are capable of marriage the company and support of a loving wife.
Early Christianity did practice it like that. The bishops and deacons are to be blameless and husband of one wife. The eastern rite practices it, other Christian churches practice it. Just because something has endured throughout the ages does not mean that it is profitable.
A priest is in an undoubted unique role because everybody will focus on what he does and so they will also focus on what he does privately. Being a good example of a godly husband and father is better than just preaching about it. Actions always speak louder than words.
A family does not take the focus of God and His people. It emphasizes this focus. Because he has a unique role in his family as well as in his parish and because he has the understanding to lead a godly life he can concentrate on his calling. He can concentrate on it because he has the backing of a family and when he is done with his work he will be able to go home to his loving family…
