I mean, really they're human first so trying to suppress all of that, well apparently it ain't working too well (molestation charges anyone?).
Oh, and also what's with the condemnation of "gay priests"? I thought they weren't supposed to have ANY sexual feelings, gay or hetero?
2006-10-03 19:12:22 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
These links are about celibacy and the Catholic church.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03481a.htm
http://www.catholic.com/library/Celibacy_and_the_Priesthood.asp
Blessings )O(
2006-10-03 19:18:07 · answer #1 · answered by Epona Willow 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why do so many people have this weird idea that letting priests marry would solve the problem of the sexual abuse of children in the Catholic Church? Why, so these freaks could molest their own children instead of all the kids in the parish? Are some people under the impression that would actually work? That pedophiles are monogamous?
If the Catholic Church was a normal sect, I would say it was none of any non-Catholic's business how they select their priests, popes, beliefs or anything else. Since the revelations of the past 20 years have made it very clear the Church is not a normal sect, personally I think all citizens have a strong interest in getting to the bottom of whatever the hell has been going on in that giant, gilded closet of theirs. It's long overdue that the Catholic Church in the US was the subject of a full-scale RICO investigation.....
2006-10-04 03:15:06 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most definitively disagree.
Your claim asserts that merely remaining single will turn one into a child molester. Pretty thin, wouldn't you say?
As you were so fond of noting, clergymen are human too. They are going to have sexual urges whether they want to or not. Clergymen are not called to not have such feelings. This is a natural impossibility. It is possible, however, to remain chaste in spite of said urges - and that's what priests are called to do. So, you thought wrong.
What's more, considering the fact priests are called to abstain from sex, does it really matter if a given priest is gay or hetero? Of course it does not.
And don't you think men considering the priesthood are 1) aware that they are called to a life of abstinence, and 2) that this will not be easy?
You claim there has been condemnation of gay priests. Yet, you make a case for a blanket judgement of all priests in that you feel ALL should get married.
You've not investigated the theological errors of your conclusion. In order to make this a possibility, the Catholic Church would have to ignore what Scripture has to say about certain aspects of the Holy Sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders. This is not going to happen.
In order for your idea to make any sense, first you have to explain how merely remaining unmarried warps one into a child molester. Can you do that?
(common sense anyone?)
2006-10-04 07:14:37 · answer #3 · answered by Daver 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of the smartest ideas I ever heard with respect to Catholic priests was by Father Andrew Greeley (the author). He proposed that there be a "Priest Corps" (like Peace Corps) where the priest only has to sign up for 2 years at a time. And after doing his duty, could then leave if desired, marry if desired or sign up for more duty. This way he could give of himself without the distraction of sex (a Catholic thing) and still have the option of a normal life afterward as a reward for a job well done. Apparently he understands that celebacy is not a healthy lifelong goal.
2006-10-04 02:30:50 · answer #4 · answered by AuroraDawn 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Priests have sexual feelings like everyone else, but since they're called to be celibate, they're not allowed to act on those feelings.
Even if priests could marry, the problem wouldn't be solved, because there are many other temptations out there which continue to snag married people.
We might have adulterous priests, or divorced priests, or some other variation ... possibly even worse than what we have now.
There's nothing wrong with dedicating one's self totally to God.
It's just not easy, especially these days.
The current problems are likely more a sign of the times than they are a reflection of anything else.
2006-10-04 03:35:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Believe it or not, the Bible never required anyone not to get married. Even though Paul the Apostle commends people who can remain celebate... he also notes that for many people that is not a reality (see I Corinthians 7:9). It might also interest people to know that the Apostle Peter (historically believed to be the first pope) was married (see Matthew 8:14). So this business of preists not getting married is not something required by God...
Have you ever noticed that it is in human nature for us to want the very thing we are told we cannot have??? During the Prohibition Era... Alcohol was... um... prohibited... and so bootleggers business boomed... the things we tell Children not to do are the things they sneak around trying to do...
Permitting Preists to marry would probably solve a great many problems where sexual misconduct is concerned. When trying to "force" an individual to deny something that is inherently human (after all... God himself said be fruitful and multiply... thereby encouraging sexuality)... bad things are bound to happen.
2006-10-04 02:47:56 · answer #6 · answered by Rev T L Clark 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Marraige is a gift from God and although Jesus and some Christians remained single, it wasn't a requirement to abstain.
The apostle Paul was single and one of the greatest teachers and missionaries of the early church, but notice what he wrote at 1 Timothy 4; 1-3 that some would fall away from the faith and pay attention to misleading utterances and teachings and would forbid to marry and command to abstain from certain foods.
2006-10-04 02:26:20 · answer #7 · answered by jaguarboy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are human of course they have sexual feelings. I personally do care if they are allowed to marry or not. But if priests are allowed to get married, what about nuns? You don't ever hear about nuns molesting young girls or boys do you?
2006-10-04 02:26:11 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are dozens of active, married Catholic priests. The are Anglicans, who switched. They were allowed to keep their spouses, and be priests.
2006-10-04 02:39:56 · answer #9 · answered by Isolde 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
priests follows christ example, serve with full heart and soul. If the priest married,he have family first then the parish second.
2006-10-04 06:03:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definitely . Then they would have to live in the real world were nothing is perfect.
The only way to guarantee that there are no sexual felling is to neuter and mutilate them before they reach puberty.
2006-10-04 02:23:32 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋