Roman Catholic Priests Question

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It is a discipline based on scripture about giving up everything for God. It has not always been a discipline of the Ltin church, but has been in place for many, many hundreds of years.

We know from our protestant brothers that there can be serious problems with having married clergy. Things like affairs and abuse are not necessarily “solved” when a man is married. There have unfortuntely been scandals of clergy leaving his family for another woman, clergy dating around within a church, etc.

We know fron our Eastern and Orthodox brothers that even when married men are allowed to be ordained (NOT the other way around), it is still preferable to choose bishops only from those men who do take vows/promises of celibcy.
 
The way that it was explained to me back when I was in RCIA by my priest was that Priests are called to give there whole lives to God. When you are called to marriage you are to give yourself whole and completly to your partner. This makes a perdicament that one can not give themselves all to God and all to their spose and so the Church in her Wisdom has decided that the easiest way is for the Clergy not to be married. Hope this Helps:thumbsup:

Pax
 
carguy said:
Why can’t Roman Catholic priests get married?
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I’ll try to simplify the answers that others gave; they seemed a bit muddled.

In general, Catholic priests cannot marry as their Sacrament of Holy Orders actually form a sacramental union, in this case, as the bridegroom of the Bride of Christ, the Church. Priests are alter Christi–“another Christ.” As Christ related his Church as his bride, so does the priest. This is a *discipline *of the Church–a policy of the Holy See that, while rooted in Scripture (Matt. 19:11-12, 1 Cor 7:1, 1 Cor. 7:27 and others), is not a dogmatic teaching.

Exceptions are made. There are some married priests. Most of these are converts from the Anglican/Episcopalian community, who had allowed marriage with priests in their tradition. In contrast, the Orthodox Church, which have valid sacraments as Catholics, allows married priests, should they choose.

Bishops can never be married. A married priest cannot become a bishop. This is true in both Catholic and Orthodox faiths.
 
carguy said:
Why can’t Roman Catholic priests get married?
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Consider what Scripture has to say about celibacy:
Now concerning the thing whereof you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. But for fear of fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render the debt to his wife, and the wife also in like manner to the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband. And in like manner the husband also hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud not one another, except, perhaps, by consent, for a time, that you may give yourslves to prayer; and return together again, lest Satan tempt you for your incontinency.
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But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment. For I would that all men were even as myself: but every one hath his proper gift from God; one after this manner, and another after that. But I say to the unmarried, and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I. But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt.
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1 Corinthians 7:1-9 (emphasis added).
What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. They say to him: Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorce, and to put away? He saith to them: Because Moses by reason of the hardness of your heart permitted you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery. His disciples say unto him: If the case of a man with his wife be so, it is not expedient to marry.
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Who said to them: All men take not this word, but they to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs, who were born so from their mother’s womb: and there are eunuchs, who were made so by men: and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take it.
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Matthew 19:6-12 (emphasis added).

Celibacy is encouraged by Scripture. Not all can handle it; but, if you have the fortitude to handle it, it is more than merely acceptable.
 
One thing to note, it has never been tradition East or West for priests to get married. Once you are ordained a deacon (maybe sub-deacon, I’m not sure on this), you may not marry. In the East marriage is allowed prior to this.
 
carguy said:
Why can’t Roman Catholic priests get married?
Click to expand...
Its a discipline. You can find a Roman Catholic priest who is married. It is possible. Specifically a priest who is Anglican can enter into communion with the Roman Catholic Church and thus be a married Roman Catholic Priest. Also some orthodox western churches may have similar conversion situations but I don’t know of any per say.
 
BertBlyleven said:
One thing to note, it has never been tradition East or West for priests to get married. Once you are ordained a deacon (maybe sub-deacon, I’m not sure on this), you may not marry. In the East marriage is allowed prior to this.
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In traditional fraternities is sub-diaconate. Since the order of sub-diaconate was suppressed, it’s the deaconate when the make their promise of celibacy.
 
Mrs_Sally said:
It is a discipline based on scripture about giving up everything for God. It has not always been a discipline of the Ltin church, but has been in place for many, many hundreds of years.

We know from our protestant brothers that there can be serious problems with having married clergy. Things like affairs and abuse are not necessarily “solved” when a man is married. There have unfortuntely been scandals of clergy leaving his family for another woman, clergy dating around within a church, etc.

We know fron our Eastern and Orthodox brothers that even when married men are allowed to be ordained (NOT the other way around), it is still preferable to choose bishops only from those men who do take vows/promises of celibcy.
Click to expand...
Actually the discipline is that married men can not be ordained. Holy Orders is an impediment to the Sacrament of Marriage.

Once ordained no man may validly marry.
 
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