I am a Catholic but.....?

Question

Is it wrong for me to believe that Priests should be able to get married and still say Mass and all the other things Priests do in the name of God?

Answer 1

Nope. You'd make a great Anglican, by the way....and we'd be proud to have you. ;-)

BTW - it will happen - probably not in our lifetime. But there are some Eastern Rite and ex-Anglican Priests who "came over" to Rome ("swam the Tiber") who are married and function as RCC Priests. We shall have to see!

Answer 2

No. In the village where my mom is from, there is a married priest. He immigrated to Canada a while ago. Some of the congregation (Ukrainian Catholic--Byzantine Rite) thought it was strange, but they just had to get used to it. He started out as a deacon, and was already married before he was ordained. An unmarried priest is not allowed to marry after ordination, although I have heard of it happening, but I think he gave up his congregation. There is also a Bishop (Roman Catholic) who lives near by with his wife. He doesn't have a district though. He just takes over Bishop duties whenever another Bishop needs him. I don't think he even has a congregation either, but he's available for consultation. He began as a Monk, which is much more strict than priest, since they tend to live a life filled with sacrifice.

Answer 3

Technically, that is something that could change ( unlike ordination of women, which can NEVER happen) so you are entitled to your opinion.

But, consider this:

I know quite a few priests, and some of them quite well. Not one of the 'good' priests thinks marriage for priests is a good idea. Not one believes it will increase vocations- they think it will DECREASE vocations, because when the stress of the job affects the marriage, a priest would need to sacrifice his priesthood before his marriage. They see there would be no time to properly devote to a wife and children.

The Church teaches our priorities should be- in this order- God, Family, Work.

But if God IS your work, where does it put your family dead last.

Don't compare it to Protestant ministers- their life is completely different than that of a priest. And it isn;t just the marriage part.

The priests I know who think marriage should be an option have never been 'good' priests in my book- even before I knew this about them. They are lukewarm in their example and generally act like they would rather not be priests any more anyway.

Answer 4

I don't think that you are being a bad member of the Church if you think that priests should be able to get married. For instance, in the Byzantine rite of the Catholic Church, priests can and do get married. However, I don't think that is going to change anytime soon for the Roman rite of the Catholic Church. Besides, being a priest is a full time job. They wouldn't really have time for their wife and kids. It's not easy to run a parish. Plus they have to get up in the middle of the night if someone is dying. And they don't make a whole lot of money. Hope that helps!

Answer 5

Well, the bible actually says that they should be married (1Timothy3) (take a second and go look it up so you can see)
The Catholic church has at times said that they should, and then at other times said they shouldn't. It depends on the time in history as to whether or not it was or wasn't.

The bible also talks about a time that would come when some would fall away from the faith and an teach doctrines th;at would include the abstinence from marriage. (1Timothy 4). The bible refers to these later doctrines that would be contrary to the biblical teachings as "the teachings of demons". So, to answer your question, no, you are not wrong. Your view is in line with the bible.

Answer 6

Celibacy is a disciplinary rule really; not a doctrine or a dogma. So when priests entered the priesthood they accepted this rule. There is really no justifiable reason why they should misbehave. They can always leave the priesthood if they would like to get married.

I think the Vatican is reexamining this policy right now, if that is any relief to you.

Peace and every blessing!

Answer 7

I too am catholic, and I have always thought that priests should marry. Where does it say in the bible that a messenger of god had to be single? After all they are human with human desires.

Answer 8

I guess the mistake comes from assuming that Peter was not married.
But the Gospels clearly state that Peter had a mother-in-law, thus he had to have been married.
The Bible also states that if you can endure not being married, do so, to be a better servant for God. But if you cannot, and the passion is burning inside you, get married.

Answer 9

When a man becomes a priest, he knowingly takes that vow of celibacy. It's not sprung upon him by surprise. Rather than use celibacy as an excuse to feel sorry for priests, celibacy is the perfect reason to respect them.

Animals have sex on instinct. Mankind has that same instinct. However, given man's ability to reason, he can say "no" to that urge. Anyone who goes about with the attitude "we have to have sex" has lowered themselves to the level of animals.

Surely you don't see it that way...

Celibacy is a discipline, not Church dogma. But that doesn't change the fact this practice is still based on Biblical Precedent set by Jesus, the Apostles, among others. What sort of message would the Catholic Clergy be sending if it preached the Bible but did not follow it?

Matt. 19:11-12 - 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.

Matt. 19:29 - Jesus says that 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.

Matt. 22:30 - Jesus explains that 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.

1 Cor 7:1 – Paul teaches that it is well for a man not to touch a woman. This is the choice that the Catholic priests of the Roman rite freely make.

1 Cor. 7:7 - Paul also acknowledges that celibacy is a gift from God and wishes that all were celibate like he is.

1 Cor. 7:27 – 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.

1 Cor. 7:32-33, 38 - 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.”

1 Tim. 3:2 - Paul instructs that bishops must be married only once. Many Protestants use this verse to prove that the Church's celibacy law is in error. But they are mistaken because this verse refers to bishops that were widowers. Paul is instructing that these widowers could not remarry. The verse also refers to those bishops who were currently married. They also could not remarry (in the Catholic Church's Eastern rite, priests are allowed to marry; celibacy is only a disciplinary rule for the clergy of the Roman rite). Therefore, this text has nothing to do with imposing a marriage requirement on becoming a bishop.

1 Tim. 4:3 - in this verse, Paul refers to deceitful doctrines that forbid marriage. Many non-Catholics also use this verse to impugn the Church's practice of celibacy. This is entirely misguided because the Catholic Church (unlike many Protestant churches) exalts marriage to a sacrament. In fact, marriage is elevated to a sacrament, but consecrated virginity is not. The Church declares marriage sacred, covenantal and lifegiving. Paul is referring to doctrines that forbid marriage and other goods when done outside the teaching of Christ and for a lessor good. Celibacy is an act of giving up one good (marriage and children) for a greater good (complete spiritual union with God).

1 Tim. 5:9-12 - Paul recommends that older widows take a pledge of celibacy. This was the beginning of women religious orders.

2 Tim. 2:3-4 - Paul instructs his bishop Timothy that no soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim his to satisfy the One who enlisted him. Paul is using an analogy to describe the role of the celibate priesthood in the Church.

Rev. 14:4 - unlike our sinful world of the flesh, in heaven, those consecrated to virginity are honored.

Isaiah 56:3-7 - the eunuchs who keep God's covenant will have a special place in the kingdom of heaven.

Jer. 16:1-4 - Jeremiah is told by God not to take a wife or have children.

Answer 10

You can belive it but the reason priest are required to be celibate is because Jesus himself was celibate and we follow Jesus' example.