Who agrees that priests in the catholic church should be allowed to marry?

Question

Why/Why Not?

Many of you mention child sexual abuse by priests but remember this type of abuse happens in any religion or with people who have a sexual partner anyhow.
I do believe they should marry and be allowed to enjoy the happiness a family brings to a man or woman to be part of god's creation.

Answer 1

Marriage is a sacrament in the Catholic Church. Celibacy is not.

Men and women choose not to marry following:
+ The practice recommended in the Bible
+ The example of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, and the Apostle Paul.

+++ Scripture +++

+ In Matthew 19:12, Jesus says, "Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it."

Jesus says celibacy is a gift from God and whoever can bear it should bear it. Jesus praises and recommends celibacy for full time ministers in the Church. Because celibacy is a gift from God, those who criticize the Church's practice of celibacy are criticizing God and this wonderful gift He bestows on His chosen ones.

+ In Matthew 19:29, Jesus says, "And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life."

Whoever gives up children for the sake of His name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. Jesus praises celibacy when it is done for the sake of His kingdom.

+ Matthew 22:30 - Jesus explains, "At the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the angels in heaven."

In heaven there are no marriages. To bring about Jesus' kingdom on earth, priests live the heavenly consecration to God by not taking a wife in marriage. This way, priests are able to focus exclusively on the spiritual family, and not have any additional pressures of the biological family (which is for the vocation of marriage). This also makes it easier for priests to be transferred to different parishes where they are most needed without having to worry about the impact of their transfer on wife and children.

+ In 1 Corinthians 7:1, Paul writes, "It is a good thing for a man not to touch a woman."

This is the choice that the Catholic priests of the Roman rite freely make.

+ Then in 1 Corinthians 7:7, Paul says, "Indeed, I wish everyone to be as I am."

Paul acknowledges that celibacy is a gift from God and wishes that all were celibate like he is.

+ In 1 Corinthians 7:27, Paul writes, "Are you free of a wife? Then do not look for a wife."

Paul teaches men that they should not seek marriage. In Paul’s opinion, marriage introduces worldly temptations that can interfere with one’s relationship with God, specifically regarding those who will become full time ministers in the Church.

+ In 1 Corinthians 7:32-33, Paul teaches, "I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife." And in verse 38, "So then, the one who marries his virgin does well; the one who does not marry her will do better."

Paul recommends celibacy for full time ministers in the Church so that they are able to focus entirely upon God and building up His kingdom. He “who refrains from marriage will do better.”

See also
1 Timothy 5:9-12
2 Timothy 2:3-4
Revevation 14:4
Isaiah 56:3-7
Jeremiah 16:1-4

+++ Scriptural Examples +++

The celibate clergy did not come into full bloom until about 1000 A.D. There were many married priests, bishops, and popes before this time.

Biblical role models of a celibate clergy came from the Jews, John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Apostle Paul.

The Jews. The Talmud argues that a person whose “soul is bound up with the Torah and is constantly occupied with it” may remain celibate (Maimonides, Laws of Marriage 15.3). For example, Yahweh ordered the prophet Jeremiah not to marry (Jeremiah 16:1-4). Moreover, the Essenes was a group that was active in Jesus’ time that practiced celibacy and thought by most scholars to be the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

WWJD? What would Jesus do? Jesus did not marry.

John the Baptist and Jesus are both believed to have been celibate for their entire lives. Some scholars believe that the example of the Essenes influenced either or both Jesus and John the Baptist in their celibacy.

The Apostle Paul is explicit about his celibacy (see 1 Cor. 7). There is also evidence in the gospel of Matthew for the practice of celibacy among at least some early Christians, in the famous passage about becoming “eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:12).

The concept took many twists and turns over the years and will probably take a few more before Christ returns in glory.

A priest is "married" to the Church. Some people think that a priest who takes his duties seriously cannot take proper care of a wife and family. "A man cannot serve two masters."

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Priests should be able to get married. There is nothing in the Bible that would possibly recommend the separation of men from women. The two genders were meant to be together. God created Adam and then created Eve so he'd have a help mate and someone to spend time with so he would not be lonely. This occurs in the first book of the Bible, Genesis. What rationale, then, does the Catholic Church have for keeping priests from marrying? Very little.

Answer 3

I have never understood why they can' marry. i also never nun and monk thing either. It seems that the church is punishing them for no reason. God made men and women so they get married and have a partner to have sex with. He made pleasure spots for a reason and priests have them too. I think it should be their decision if they want to be celibate for God or if they want to marry. I hope the Catholic religion will ease up on that.

Answer 4

The Bible never prohibits marriage for Pastors. In fact it says you must be married to be able to counsel others. Satanic traditions in some Churches must be eliminated.

The Cathloic Church made abstinence from marriage a holy act, but do not crack down on Child abuse homosexual priests. Paul said it is better to marry than to burn.

Answer 5

Yes, they should again be allowed to marry. It would close the door to the pedophiles and stop a lot of the sexual abuse going on.

Stopping it due to financial reasons to start with opened a large can of trouble in more ways than one. Not allowing them to marry had nothing at all to do with celibacy.

The first pope was married.

Answer 6

I do... they have taken the most basic human drive and instinct and need and made it off limits to these poor men, and as far as I know this celibacy is no where in the Christian bible. I think all this latent pent up sexuality that has been coming out improperly with Priests for years would never happen if they could live a normal human sexual life.

Answer 7

Yes. They should have the same rights to marriage as others do. The Vatican believes that married priests would not be able to fully look after their parishes. Not true....Look at the success of married Protestant priests. Maybe the Catholic Church should stop trying to control its priests and their lives so much....

Answer 8

I think the male priests should be allowed to marry woman, but I don't know why the Catholic church believes this, that priests should remain celibate. Maybe if they allowed them to marry, they wouldn't attack little boys......

Answer 9

There are some people who think that if priests are allowed to marry, it would prevent them from being pedophiles. What does one have to do with the other?

Answer 10

Not me because some are called to live a life of celibacy. If they want to marry then they should be Pastors or Reverands or something else. A Priest is called to a celibate life.