The priest, his flock and his wife

[wabrams]

barnestormer:

As for the 7 sacraments line, I simply spoke in terms of volume. A Catholic priest has to be available for Confession, Last Rites / Annointing of the Sick, infant Baptism, marriage preparation, and these things simply add to the sheer volume of what he must do on a daily basis. I’ve seen many priests who could spend the better part of each day running around taking Holy Communion and Annointing of the Sick to nursing homes, the homebound, etc., in his parish.

Well, you just mentioned all the duties of a Protestant minister. You could substitute confession for counciling. But Baptisms are scheduled in both, marriage prep is scheduled in both, annointing of the sick or visitation is usually done in a scheduled block of time during the day for both (except Protestants don’t do last rites). It’s tit for tat for both. I think any man who chooses a religious vocation has a full day, whether Protestant or Catholic.

barnestormer:

My point is that, all things being equal, much more is expected of a Catholic priest (quantitatively speaking) than many other Christian church ministers. Again, this conclusion comes from observation in my diversely-churched area, and the mere definition of ministerial capacity.

It must not be that diverse or you aren’t looking past your Parish doors that closely. I think any man who chooses a religious vocation as there carerr has a full day, whether Protestant or Catholic.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

This is something that I have yet to see discussed in regards to the married priesthood.

In the Churches that have a married priesthood. Mainly the Orthodox Churches as we Byzantine Catholic Churches sort of lost touch with this in the '30s when the Vatican forced celibacy on us (now that this has changed we are rediscovering this).

Is the idea that the role of a priest’s wife is a vocation. It is a calling.

Not every woman can be a priest’s wife, that one is called to such a life.

 

[barnestormer]

wabrams:

It must not be that diverse or you aren’t looking past your Parish doors that closely.

I’ve looked around plenty, even dated the daughter of a Presbyerian pastor once…long story for another time

I’ve lived in various areas throughout the western U.S. and have seen the same trends, with few exceptions.

Perhaps the unchurched West is a strange place!