Catholics?

Question

Do you think that if priests were allowed to marry, children would be safer

Answer 1

I think it is so un-natural for a man or woman to take the vowel of celibracy for God or any other reason unless they have Aids. To Love Body and Soul is a natural thing, when you take natural away, then yes someone will pay the price. Good Question I will star this one.

Answer 2

I have known many good Catholic men who had considered priesthood but then fell in love and got married. That celibacy requirement cuts off a lot of men who would be great priests. As a result, a disproportionate number of the men who become priests are the kind of men who aren't inclined to like women in "that way."
I think the "threat to children" posed by priests is greatly exaggerated. However, I also think the Church should lift the celibacy requirement.

Answer 3

No, There is no correlation of non abuse to marriage. The likelihood is the priest was once abused himself as a boy and the devil knew full well he would become a priest. The damage that is caused within your soul makes it incredibly difficult to overcome certain temptations whether you are married, single or a priest. But by the grace of God these can be overcome if you accept the grace. These priest who have abused were unfaithful from the beginning to their priesthood. That is their relationship and love for God was not were it should have been. I could speak at length regarding this issue such as the Devils role in this matter in striking the Shepard and scat erring the sheep and using their angelic powers to see upstream at a boy who is to become a priest.
Please do not judge the priest for Jesus will be their just judge
pray for them instead

Answer 4

The greater majority of Catholic Priests are called to the Church and are perfectly adjusted to celibacy.
It is the odd one or two here and there who cannot accept their situation.
I once saw a Catholic Priest steal a pornographic magazine and slip it between the sheets of the newspaper he was buying. He paid for the paper but not the magazine.

On seeing such a grave situation, knowing the stationer was a Roman Catholic, I told him what I had seen. He was quite dismissive and took offence at my disclosure.

One such is a sample of the minority but perhaps not as insidious as some others who molest and abuse children and young people.

On the question of Priests being married. I am sure they feel able to offer advice and do so but are they so well informed when the whole ethos of their position does not let them experience marriage?

Answer 5

First of all, children are as safe with priests as with anyone else, since the incidence of such crimes among priests is no greater than among the general population. Only the press coverage of such crimes committed by priests is disproportionately greater.

Second, marriage does not cure pedophilia, as shown by the fact that the largest group of pedophiles is married men.

Third, such crimes by priests have almost always involved adolescent boys. Therefore these few priests are not true pedophiles, but simply homosexuals, and therefore would not marry a woman even if allowed to do so.
.

Answer 6

I know many good men who left the priesthood to get married and have families. They are a loss. I don;t think allowing priest sto get married would have changed the current situation of abuse as these people would have hidden behind the guise whatever and possibly never have married anyway......but to allow marriage would be a healthier option for the overall funtioning would be positive......for the more normals allowed in the more abnormals would be recognised and dealt with properly instead of giving sanctuary.....and condoning.

Answer 7

Not necessarily. But as someone pointed out, celibacy as a prerequisite for priesthood is not scriptural. Even Peter, who is revered by Catholics as their first pope, was married -- "And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever..."

Even those of the Levitical priesthood, e.g. those of the tribe of Levi (Aaron, Eli, etc.) were married and had children.

As to celibacy as a requirement, the Bible has this to say, "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; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats (or certain foods), which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth..."

Answer 8

No. It's received less publicity, but there's been jsut asmany cases of child abuse by non-Catholic pastors as by Catholic priests. And n either case, the problem isn't with religion--it's with a society that insists on regarding children as property to be exploited and not as young people to be cherished and nutured.

Answer 9

no. and i dont think that all priests should be tarred withe the same brush. even when it all came out, not every priest was a child abuser!! although i will concede that maybe some joined the priesthood because of their tendancies. and their are child abusers who are married in the secular world.

Answer 10

No. If someone has a liking for children, won't matter whether they are married or not. If it was adult company they wanted, why not just have an affair with someone who doens't know they are a priest?