Should Catholic priests be allowed to marry?

Question

I think this might reduce the number of child molesting priests, and create a more natural lifestyle for priests. NOTE: I am not catholic.

Answer 1

Priests, religious brothers and religious sisters (nuns) ar not allowed to marry following:
+ The practices recommended by founder of christianity Paul of Tarsus, a notorious woman hater and young man lover;

+ Alleged historic examples of church property being lost through marriage.

+++ Historical Steps +++

(590-604) Gregory I introduces celibacy edict to prevent property from passing from church to possible wives, families or mistresses of clergy.

(590 CE) Approximately 6000 babies are found murdered in pond outside Gregory's Lateran palace after celibacy edict is introduced by Gregory I.

(655 CE): In an attempt to persuade priests to remain celibate, the 9th Council of Toledo ruled that all children of clerics were to be automatically enslaved. This ruling was later incorporated into the canon law of the church.

(1089 CE) That the Synod of Melfi under Pope Urban II, also known as Blessed Urban, did order the imposition of slavery on the wives of priests;

(1484-92) That Pope Innocent VIII did deliberately and actively display contempt to the institution of marriage, of all church law, and all Christians by fathering the largest number of illegitimate children of any Pope in the history of the church. That the number of illegitimate children is reputed to have been well over 100 and is why his reign as Supreme Pontiff is known as the "Golden Age of Bastards" in which the funds of the church were severely depleted when he granted those children not murdered with financial support.

For more, see:
http://one-faith-of-god.org/final_testament/end_of_darkness/evil/evil_0120.htm

+++ Scriptural Examples +++

Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and founded the Nazarenes.
See:
http://one-faith-of-god.org/new_testament/apocrypha/nazarenes/nazarenes_0010.htm

There is plenty of examples in the true gospels of Jesus concerning the sancity of marriage, especially for Jesus, his apostles and the Nazarene faith.

Paul of Tarsus on the other hand was a life long lover of young men and hater of women.

+++WWJD? What would Jesus do? +++

Jesus was married, Paul was not. Jesus respected women as equal. Paul loved young men and hated women.

The Apostle Paul is explicit about his celibacy and love for young men(see 1 Cor. 7). There is also evidence in the gospel of Matthew, (a doctored work by Paul of Tarsus himself) for the practice of celibacy among at least some early Christian converts from satanic worship in Syria, in the famous passage about becoming “eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:12).

The same practice can be seen in the worship of the Syrian goddess up until at least 150 CE.
See:
http://one-faith-of-god.org/new_testament/apocrypha/lucian/lucian_0010.htm

If a priest properly follows Jesus, then they should be "married" to their community and not the church.

Some people think that a priest who is devoid of the normal, loving relationship of a family is cut off from their community, leading to greater risk of evil acts-something that is a feature of Catholic history for many centuries.

With love in the real Jesus Christ.

Answer 2

I wish people would get off the Church's back about celibacy and do some homework on pedophilia for a change.

Pedophilia is a sickness. It is not a condition created because of a vow. It is a sickness where the individual afflicted by it is sexually attracted to children. Any psychologist will tell you this. The priests that molested children were pedophiles long before they became priests. It wasn't the vocation or the vow that made them this way. That's absurd. If we were talking about a Muslim or Jew or even an atheist, it would be no different. Think of the recent slew of female school teachers who were arrested for sexually assaulting their students. They were not religious clergy, yet they couldn't help themselves and molested children. This shows that pedophilia even crosses gender lines.

We need to pray for this sickness to be put to an end. It is only God's grace that will put an end to it.

God bless.

Answer 3

According to mental health professionals, celibacy is not the problem. These child molesters would be just as sick or evil whether or not they had taken a vow of celibacy. http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/facts/fm0011.html

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.

Priests, religious brothers and religious sisters (nuns) as part of their vocation 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."

+ 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."

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

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

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

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

+ 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, and Jeremiah 16:1-4.

+++ Scriptural Examples +++

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

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.

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

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 4

No, Catholic clergymen don't seem to be allowed to marry. This principle is each usual and Biblical. In Matthew 19:12, Jesus says that folks who might stay celebate for the sake of the dominion of Heaven will have to achieve this. In a million Corinthians 7:7-nine, Paul writes that folks who can chorus from marriage will have to achieve this. Later, in verses 7:32-35, 38, Paul writes that simplest the single guy will also be wholly worried with the Lord, for the married guy is worried approximately worldly affairs, how you can please his spouse, and his pursuits are divided. So, it's usual, due to the fact that this can be a present and calling from God to serve Him, and it's Biblical, having been endorsed by way of Christ and by way of Paul. Even if any of the long-established Apostles have been married, and lots of Protestants declare that Peter, no less than, was once married, those guys left their properties and households, the whole lot, to comply with Jesus. In Luke 18:29-30, for instance, Jesus says "There isn't any guy who has left residence or spouse or brothers or moms and dads or kids, for the sake of the kingodm of God, who is not going to acquire manifold extra on this time, and within the age to return everlasting lifestyles." Before that, in Matthew 17:27-29, Peter says "'Lo, we've left the whole lot and adopted You. What then shall we've?" Jesus mentioned to them, '...each one that has left residences or brothers or sisters or guardian or kids or lands, for my identify's sake, will acquire a hundredfold, and inherit everlasting lifestyles." The truth is that being a person of God is a giant dedication. Marriage can simplest be a distraction, as can kids. The priest ought to be wholly dedicated to God and to the Church. It is a detailed calling that a long way too few younger guys are equipped to reply, due to the fact that it does take a quality deal of area.

Answer 5

Celibacy is Church Practice, Not Dogma
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 6

I am of mixed feelings about this one.

Answer 7

Yes, but it would seriously reduce the sales of Playboy and Hustler.