Is it time the Catholic Church allowed Priests to Marry? Would this help solve more than one problem at once?

Answer 1

Priests should not be allowed to be married.
they have and should continue to dedicate their lives to the church.

Answer 2

Q: Is it time the Catholic Church allowed Priests to Marry?
A: Yes. They're called Lutherans, who split from the Catholic Church many moons ago because its founder didn't agree with some of the Catholic doctrine, including celibacy (although their services are very similar to a Catholic mass). You should know, however, that originally priests did marry and celibacy was optional. Over time, it became the rule.

It's ok to disagree with, or question, religious doctrine; however, if it becomes a real issue for you, it may be time for you to find another religion or church that is more aligned with your personal beliefs.

Q: Would this help solve more than one problem at once?
A: Oy, you're asking a loaded question! Depends on what problems you're referring to, since many perceived (and unperceived) problems in the Catholicism is not unique to that religion.

Answer 3

It should be noted, for the record, that the Catholic church actually does have married priests.

It is ONLY the Roman rite that requires priests to be celibate, and even then there are some exceptions. For instance, Episcopal priests who convert are given a dispensation from the vow of celibacy.

For the record, I do think the Catholic church should consider dispensing with the vow of celibacy for the Roman rite. We have a significant shortage of priests right now, and I think married men could fill the gap. I don't know that it would solve all that many other problems, such as the child abuse scandals - that requires better administrative oversight by dioceses. But it would solve the shortage, I think.

Answer 4

If you are referring to the problem with pedophilia, then the answer is no. It is a proven fact that most pedophiles are hederosexual married men. 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 kingdom 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

Episcopalian priests who convert to Catholicism are allowed to remain married. They can't exactly be forced to divorce now and the Catholic Church is in no position to turn down qualified and experienced clergy.

Wives and children haven't prevented them from serving well. Why have a double standard for priests who ordain as Catholic?

Answer 6

Until the Dark Ages priests were able to marry. And this started about 500 AD

Answer 7

it is precisely the holiness of marriage that makes celibacy precious; for only what is good and holy in itself can be given up for God as a sacrifice. Just as fasting presupposes the goodness of food, celibacy presupposes the goodness of marriage. To despise celibacy, therefore, is to undermine marriage itself—as the early Fathers pointed out.

Celibacy is also a life-affirming institution. In the Old Testament, where celibacy was almost unknown, the childless were often despised by others and themselves; only through children, it was felt, did one acquire value. By renouncing marriage, the celibate affirms the intrinsic value of each human life in itself, regardless of offspring.

Finally, celibacy is an eschatological sign to the Church, a living-out in the present of the universal celibacy of heaven: "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven" (Matt. 22:30).

Enough with the pedophile bias. It is not a uniquely Catholic problem and there are just as many in other religions.
Most pedophiles are married men!!!

Answer 8

And which problems would that solve?

We don't go around telling Buddhists, that their monks and nuns should marry. So, why do we think, we can tell the Catholic Church what to do?

The Catholic faith states that priests are not to marry, and neither are nuns. Just like Buddhism, etc....

Leave them alone. They aren't hurting anyone.

Molesting children is not just prevalent among Catholics. It has happened in other faiths as well...
Welcome to a collection of news reports of ministers sexually abusing children:

ALL Protestant denominations - 838 Ministers

147 Baptist Ministers

251 "Bible" Church Ministers (fundamentalist/evangelical)

140 Anglican/Episcopalian Ministers

38 Lutheran Ministers

46 Methodist Ministers

19 Presbyterian Ministers

197 various Church Ministers

And yet,, they marry! Wow, what a great connection.

Answer 9

Let's see-

Once a pedophile, always a pedophile- if thats what you mean. No, you cant solve a biological disorder with the easement of this rule.

We'll just have pedophiles that are married and having kids that they are now molesting, and on top of that, doing so from a position of greatest power and example.

The only way to fix the Church is to purge all of our priests. Set more rigid guidlines and offer remandment for the people who dedicate themselves to God and yet cannot resist the sin of temptation. What I mean is lock them away voluntarily- give them the opportunity to go to a monastary and be one with God, far from the risk of temptation.

Married people have arguements with each other. Priests have arguements with God (and like my wife, God always wins). Can you imagine what it would be like if the Priest had to argue with God and his wife?

Answer 10

Did you know Buddhists practice chastity?
Did you know Hindue's practice chastity?
Did you know that professional Boxers practice chastity?
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"Good News about Sex & Marriage" by Christopher West

"Q: 4. Celibacy is simply unnatural. It's no wonder that so many priests have sexual problems. This type of scandal would end if priests were allowed to marry.

A: In some sense you're right to say celibacy is un-natural. As Christ reveals, celibacy is super-natural. It's celibacy for the sake of the kingdom. By calling some to renounce the natural call to marriage, Christ established an entirely new way of life, and in doing so, he demonstrated the power of the cross to transform lives.

For those who are stuck in a fallen view of sex with no concept of the freedom to which we're called in Christ, the idea of lifelong celibacy is complete nonsense. But for those who have experienced the transformation of their sexual desires in Christ, the idea of making a complete gift of our sexuality to God not only becomes a possibility; it becomes very attractive. The celibate vocation is not a rejection of sexuality. If some approach it this way, according to John Paul II, they're not living in accord with Christ's words.

Celibacy is a grace, a gift. Only a small minority of Christ's followers are given this gift. But those who are given this gift are also given the grace to be faithful to their vows, just as married couples are given the grace to be faithful to their vows.

In both vocations people can and do reject this grace and violate their vows. Certainly there's a need in the typical Catholic diocese for greater openness about sexual woundedness and for development and promotion of ministries that bring Christ's healing to those in need, including priests. But the solution to marital and celibate indidelity is not to concede to human weakness and redefine the nature of the commitments. The solution is to point to the cross as the font of grace that it is, a font from which we can drink freely and receive real power to live and love as we're called.

Furthermore, the statistical rates of sexual misconduct amoung celibate priests is no higher than that of clergy in Christian denominations who are allowed to marry. There is absolutely no evidence that allowing priests to marry would solve or even alleviate this problem.

There's also a dangerously misguided approach to marriage inherent in the idea that marriage is the solution to the sexual scandal of priests. As has been stressed throught this book, marriage does not provide a "legitimate outlet" for disordered sexual desire. Celibacy does NOT cause sexual disorder. Sin does. Simply getting married does NOT cure sexual disorder. Christ does. If a priest, or any other man, were to enter a marriage with deep-seated sexual disorders, he would be condemning his wife to a life of sexual objectification. The only way the scandal of sexual sin (whether committed by priests or others) will end is if people experience the redemption of their sexuality in Christ."

Answer 11

The whole point of Catholic priests not getting married is so that they can devote their lives entirely to God. I commend them for it as it isn't taking the easy way out. Frankly I see nothing wrong with the practice as the individuals know what they are getting themselves into when they enter the seminary.