Should the church lift its ban on celibacy for Priests to marry..?

Question

Catholic Fights to Have Church Lift Celibacy Rule
By CLARKE CANFIELD, AP

BRUNSWICK, Maine (Nov. 26) - The Vatican this month reaffirmed its position that priests should be celibate. But Louise Haggett remains faithful to her belief that the Roman Catholic Church's celibacy rules need changing now more than ever. The church could grow its shrinking ranks of priests and touch many more lives by lifting its celibacy requirements, said Haggett, a lifelong Catholic who runs a nonprofit referral service for married priests.

In the decade since Haggett launched her Rent-a-Priest Web site, more than 100,000 people have been married, buried, baptized or otherwise attended to by married priests who are listed on the site.

Perhaps some day, Haggett said, church leaders will share her opinion.

"The whole issue of celibacy in the church is nothing but a farce," she said.

Haggett, 65, founded CITI Ministries - the CITI stands for Celibacy is the Issue - in 1992 after she couldn't find a priest in Maine to visit her mother in a nursing home in the weeks before her death.

Following her mother's death, Haggett discovered there were countless priests who had left the church to marry but still felt a calling.

Answer 1

Yes.

Answer 2

There are SOME married priests but not many. These priests are either from an Eastern Rite or they were converted from an Episcopal Church where they already were married and the stature of celibacy was waved for them but, if their wife dies they cannot remarry. The priests are basically married to their Church and do not have time to deal with a wife and family too. You cannot serve two masters.

Answer 3

The Vatican makes those decisions, not Ms. Haggert from Maine. Lots of priests have left the priesthood in order to marry. Lots of Nuns do the same. They can fulfill their calling through other churches.

If Ms. Haggert is a Catholic herself, then she is disrespectful of the teachings of her church, the authority of the Holy See, and raises HERSELF up as an expert on a topic of which she knows too little.

Answer 4

I belive they should as the Anglicans do in England. It all began with the Epistles where Paul said that the highest follower of Jesus should be celibate, but that for others not so perfect a wife would be necessary to avoid the temptaions of the flesh while serving the congregation. Well we've now had enough evidence that by requiring celibacy it is turning out to look like the devil's playground.

Answer 5

Yes! They should! They are not Divine creatures with no sexual need. If they want to practise celibacy- then practise it before marraige and be a good leader for your people. I was going to mention stop molesting little boys, but that is unfair to all the priests who don't do that and are actually very good men of God. Peace.

Answer 6

Check into the history. Priest's were originally allowed to marry. It has everything to do with control and nothing to do with following God's plan. Refer to 1 Timothy Chapter 4 verse 3

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to
Timothy Chapter 4

1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2 speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Answer 7

Yes. Absolutely. That woman is right. So was St. Paul when he said "each man (should) have his own wife."

If I was Roman Catholic, I could (would) have *never* been a Priest. I am Anglican and have been a Priest for nine years (a deacon for 12) and I've been married to my supportive and loving wife for nine years as well.

Answer 8

think this would be a good idea as the Greek Orthodox Church has allowed their Priests to marry for years.

Answer 9

Priest are already married to the church.

Answer 10

Genesis - And God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helpmate for him" Non-catholic churches encourage pastors to be married and raise families. Normal, balanced men are better at guiding balanced churches.

Answer 11

I have always felt that they should be able to choose to marry, or not. The "rumblings" of this issue are still very much alive, maybe in time this will change.