Do You Agree That Cathoilc Preist Should Be Allowed To Marry???????

Question

In light of the recent media coverage of the death of Angelika father Gerry Nuegent has been found to have withheld evidence,and has been having numerous sexual liasons with women,now how can his parishoners cope with the fact he has stood and preached to them about their sins when all the time he was doing this, I dont agree that they cant marry, after all Jesus was born to mary a woman not joeseph a man,if it was a sin to be with a woamn why does their religion tell its followers to go forth and multiply most catholic families have many children my aunt had 15..I think its time this rule was changed then there would be less of this going on and not so many pervert preists..........

I have read all the answers so far,1st Im not against gays nor am I against peoples choice of religion,what Im saying is if you attend your church and beleive what your preist,minister,pastor etc is preaching to you,then isnt it only right that they should not condem you for a sin when all the while they are comitting sin themselves,they are leading a double life,father Nuegent has said that the Archdioses knew of his encounters with call girls,one of you said that they can marry well Ive never known of a preist that was married or is married.. As for the catholic church asking someone to leave as their husband had left them,I believe it if they wont marry a practicing catholic at the main alter as she is pregnant,and they demand that if your marrying someone in their faith but keeping your own that you must bring your children up catholic or they wont marry you,its time they moved into this century,and they wonder why people lose their faith.......

Answer 1

I absolutely do agree that Catholic priests should be allowed to marry. It is difficult to attract sexually healthy men to the priesthood with this ridiculous rule. This is why they attract so many pedophiles and perverts--very few "normal" men will make such a choice, no matter how much they may feel they love god.
Originally, of course, priests were allowed to get married. There have even been popes who were married and had children. One reason for imposing celebacy was to avoid problems with inheritance of church wealth by children of the clergy.
BTW, they should also allow women priests. That, too, would cut down on the perverts.
Randyken, you're not thinking logically. Sure, there are married child molesters, but in the priesthood you've ONLY got men who are not allowed to have a normal sexual relationship with anyone. It's the perfect "cover" for a guy who has no interest in having a long-term healthy relationship with another adult.
Also, understand, I don't blame gay priests for this. A priest should be allowed to have a mutually-consentual sexual relationship with any adult of either gender.

Answer 2

A few of the contributions here have already quoted the verses pertinent to the debate so they need not be quoted again here.

What I would recommend is a two-tier system similar to the Russian Orthodox Church. A priest may marry but if he does, that rules out advancement to the higher orders. Basically its better to go without, so as to be able to give ones all to the church and community, but if the priest cannot do this, then marriage is the way.

Answer 3

1 Corinthians 7:8-9
8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9 but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

It is clear that not all Catholic priest who take the vows are capable of the vows they make.
If the Catholic Church could come up with another classification of priest, one that allows marriage it would probably prevent allot of problems, and would be scriptural.

Answer 4

I have never understood how the Church could set up rules for entry to the Priesthood that would guarantee that most 'normal' men would never want to be a Priest and then profess to be schocked when many of them pprove to be abnormal. Strange concept.

Have lived in the Philippines where the Catholic Church is incredibly strong and seen the poverty that many people live in - often due to producing far to many children - it stumps me how the Church can continue to object to reasonable birth control. I am personally anti-abortion but don't not espouse the idea as being a man I can never face the issue. But I am strongly pro-birth control.

The idea of abstinence being promoted by the Church amonst a group of people who have virtually no joy in their lifes and probably no 'fun' or anything they like to do other than sex is ludicrious.

Answer 5

I'm not Catholic, but I say yes, because they're just as eligible to marry as anyone else. They simply make a secular choice to remain celibate under the verse of Scripture that says, "It is good that a man toucheth not a woman". But later on in that same part of the Bible it says, 'If they cannot contain, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn."

Answer 6

The Catholic Church does not teach that it is a sin for a man to be with a woman. In fact, in the Catholic Church, Matrimony is a very sacred and holy sacrament.

Priests do not marry because they devote their entire life to serving God and others. Paul said it is better to remain unmarried and be able to serve God alone and not to be worried about how to please a wife. Additionally, Jesus was never married because He devoted His entire life to the Father.

A man who was having numerous sexual liasons when he should have been celibate would have probably done the same if he was married.

In a 1993 survey by the Journal of Pastoral Care, 14 percent of Southern Baptist ministers said they had engaged in “inappropriate sexual behavior,” and 70 percent said they knew a minister who had had such contact with a parishioner.] Joe E. Trull is co-author of the 1993 book, Ministerial Ethics, and he found that “from 30 to 35 percent of ministers of all denominations admit to having sexual relationships—from inappropriate touching to sexual intercourse—outside of marriage.”

Answer 7

Do you really believe Target should have a small shop where shoplifters could go and steal things so that they could avoid stealing from the main store?Come on Pal get real. I have not come across rogue priests ,while I do believe some exist.

Answer 8

The Baptist minister above me should read the Bible more thoroughly before he opens his mouth. The Catholic rule of celibacy is not unbiblical; in fact, the apostle Paul recomended it.

Celibacy is in harmony with the priesthood because it is the generous choice of the personal way of life of Christ on earth; a way which allows a man to give himself to all while being devoted to God alone.

"But there are others who have given up the possibility of marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. He who can accept this should accept it." - Matthew 19,12b

Choosing chastity "for the kingdom of God" is not a way of gaining time and freedom for apostolic work: it is taking a direction that opens to the love of God with new possibilities. Paul defends this choice he himself had made.

"I think this is good (referring to celibacy) in these hard times in which we live. It is good for a man to remain as he is." - 1 Corinthians 7,26

"I would like you to be free from anxieties. He who is not married is concerned with the things of the Lord and how to please the Lord. While he who is married is taken up with the things of the world and how to please his wife, and he is divided in his interests." - 1 Corinthians 7,32-33

As for the reported scandal involving a priest, may I point out to the good minister that this also happens in his Church and other Protestant churches.

May the Lord's peace be with you!

Answer 9

I don't agree with the gay bashing embedded in you question, but I do think Catholic priests should be allowed to marry. It was a rule added so that the inheritance would go back to the church, and they would not have to share it with a wife and have kids on their hands to take care of. A very selfish reason.

Answer 10

I believe that the leaders of the Roman Catholic church should not be making decisions based on the actions of a liar or an impostor. I also believe that lawbreakers should be punished, no matter what their job is.

If someone is a priest and wants to be married, they should go to a church that allows that.