Should priests be allowed to get married?

Question

I am completely confused about one aspect of religion. I am not sure exactly which group of you this belongs to, but I am leaning towards roman catholics...

Does being married somehow reduce your dedication to god? Does the bible not say to go forth and multiply or some such thing?

So what is the deal with not allowing priests to get married? Why should they lead a cellibit lifestyle? While I realise that the problem with priests molesting people is very small in comparison to the number of priests there are, wouldn't you think that this could be to blame for that in some way?

If god himself says to procreate, why should the church deny their priests one of the most basic fundamentals of life? It makes absolutely no sense to me at all and I think it is a stupid rule that should be abolished.

Anyone else?

What does it matter if they have sex? Does that make them less close to god somehow?

dwbehrens1,

So even the bible says they should be married? Wow, makes it even more hard to understand.

Just another silly tradition then? Seems to me like it's having a bad effect.

Answer 1

the life of a priest is hard enough - with the whole congregation, often schools and diocesean needs on their plates. my pastor back home is often called out in the middle of the night, in the middle of meals and during family events - to answer the needs of his parishioners. we recently had a conversation on this and in reality he said - even if he wanted to he coudn't for the needs of the many would outweight the needs of his wife and family. their family becomes the parish. marriage is hard enough on it's own where there aren't 1000+ families vying for your attention and leadership.

there are Rcc priests that are married - they had been other denomination pastors/preachers and already married. they are generally placed in very small parishes or some are theologians and not diocesean priests.

i do not believe their celibacy is to blame for their pediphilia - pediphiles are from all walks of life and every denomination - many are married as well.

a single person is also called to celebacy - there are various ways in which God calls us to serve.

Answer 2

The Roman Catholic Church forbid it's priests to marry during the early Middle Ages. Before that, priests were married in that Church.

Problem was, married priests were bequeathing their worldly property to their wives and children upon their deaths. Some of this property the Church considered its own. So, to keep its property, it forbade it's priests to legally marry.

If you are really interested, see the Bible, 1 Timothy Chapter 3. There it requires priests to marry, saying "for if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he care for God's Church."

Answer 3

Yes, priests should be allowed to be married. In South America I hear it is common. The Catholic Church needs to get real, LOL! .

Answer 4

I think I understand mythkiller-zuba. He wants the priests to be single, so he can have them to play cream pie alley. I think since he came out, he has been so kinky.

Answer 5

Which woman would want a misfit for a husband?
Thats the reason why they become priests, they would continue to be treated with contempt if they tried to fit in.

Answer 6

Men should be married, but if they're a priest, why do they have to have sex? just marry a female priest.

Answer 7

I DO TO GOD MADE ADAM EVE AND MAN IS SUPPOSE TO BE WITH A WOMAN I THINK THAT IF THEY WERE ALLOWED TO GET MARRIED THEY WON'T HAVE THE URGE TO MOLEST BOYS THAT'S NOT IN THE BIBLE

Answer 8

They need to and live the young boys agone

Answer 9

yeas they should allow them so that they would stop molesting children in churches.