Question regarding Catholic Priests and marriage?

Question

Since marriage is one of the sacraments a person can be bestowed with during life, why is it forbidden for Priests to be married?

From my understanding, this is the only sacrament that a Priest can never receive.

Answer 1

The thought behind this is that a wife would only distract a priest from the duties of the church and the community, and the duties of the church and the community would distract a husband from being able to care for a wife and family. Many other denominations don't agree with this, and allow marriage. The world is such a different place than it was before, and there's too much scandal revolving around Catholic priests for most people to be too objective about it anymore.

If you want to take another look at the situation, without all the scandal, visit with a nun. A nun makes "marriage vows" with Jesus, and even wears a wedding band. This is a symbolic marriage (not a sexual one, as I'm sure many debunkers are likely to think), and their lives are almost identical to that of a priest, with the exception of hearing confessions, giving penance, and holding mass. There's no scandal surrounding convents, so you'll probably be able to get a more objective look at the general idea there.

And to the guy that said "according to religion, sexual intercouse is wrong", that is pretty much a bs statement. The Catholic church pretty much wants it's MARRIED members to breed like rabbits. Go for it, enjoy it, love it, make babies and populate the world! Just do it with your spouse. Sex outside of marriage is wrong, therefore clergy don't necessarily take an oath of celibacy, they can't get married therefore can't have sex.

Answer 2

It is not forbidden for a priest to be married in the latin Rite Catholic Church. It is a discipline instead where a person chooses after being called to be celibate.

Throughout the history of the Church large numbers of priests have been celibate emulating the example of Jesus and the teaching of and example of St. Paul even before it became a discipline. Under certain circumstances a Latin Rite priest may be married such as having converted from the Anglican/Episcopal , Lutheran or Moravian Churches. All other Rites of the Catholic Church do not have the strict discipline of celibacy but all honor the discipline but it is personal choice. there are 23 Rites in communion with the Roman See and 22 out of 23 do not have the discipline of celibate priests. I am a PNCC priest married with four children and six grand-children.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 3

That's true, it's the only sacrament which a priest cannot receive. Catholics feel that their clergy should be devoted to God and that a marriage would distract the priest from doing his job to the best of his ability. Nuns aren't allowed to marry, either, nor are bishops, popes, monks, or cardinals.

Answer 4

Catholic priests do not marry because, while Christ does indeed approve of marriage for the Christian clergy, He much prefers that they do not marry. He made this quite clear when He praised the Apostles for giving up ``all'' to follow Him, saying, ``And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.'' (Matt. 19:27-29). Also, Jesus explains why some do not marry, stating "some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingsom of heaven." The Apostle Paul explained why the unmarried state is preferable to the married state for the Christian clergy: ``He that is without a wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God. But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided.'' (1 Cor. 7:32-33). In other words, matrimony is good-- Christ made it one of the holy sacraments of His Church--but it is not conducive to that complete dedication which is incumbent upon those who submit themselves to another of Christ's holy sacraments--that of Holy Orders. Even so, the unmarried state of the Catholic priesthood is not an inflexible law--under certain conditions a priest may be dispensed from this law.

God bless,
Stanbo

Answer 5

I've always heard that if a Catholic marries a non Catholic, the kids need to attend the Catholic church. Personally (as a Lutheran), I believe that if a person knows the Jesus Christ died for their sins and follow the Bible, does it matter what church they attend? If your intended is a Christian, don't worry about the priest, just go to the Bible.

Answer 6

Yes, and Holy Orders is the only sacrament lay persons can never receive.

Answer 7

It all goes with the belief that Christ was not married. Since the major Christian religions all believe Christ being married as impossible, the Catholic church follows this to the extreme. It does not matter to them that we were put here to procreate. I believe that it is stupid and that if priest were allowed to marry and have sex then just maybe it would cut down on the child molestation.

Answer 8

Two of the sacrememts are marriage and Holy Orders.
We all know what marriage is.....
Holy Orders are becoming a priest, sister, or monk and dedicating ones life to serving humanity.
The take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Answer 9

Paul says in the Bible that marriage is good, but even better is a man who can dedicate himself, and his body, to the sevice of the Lord. It is a strong testament of self discipline, and is meant to demonstrate how dedicated they are to doing God's work.

Answer 10

I've answered this one a few times...so that upon the priest's death all his money and property reverts back to the church.