Should Catholic Priest Marry?

Question

I was just reading on Yahoo about the $660 million lawsuit against priests accused of sexual abuse. Do you think the answer might be for the Catholic church to allow priests to marry and therefore have a more suitable sexual outlet? There don't seem to be (maybe not as publicized) cases of abuse by preachers and rabbis who are allowed to be married. I mean no disrepect to anyone's religion, just wondering if this would solve some of the problem.

Answer 1

Celibacy actually is not a doctrine but a disciplinary rule of the Church.

If you will look at the cases you will note that most, if not all, of the molestation charges were allegedly committed by homosexual priests. I think that is where the fault lies. Homosexual behavior is an abnormality. Until and unless a gay candidate for the priesthood can prove beyond any reasonable doubt that he is no longer a homosexual, gays should not be admitted into the priesthood.
Of course this is just my personal opinion.

Regarding your main question I am for optional celibacy just like in the Orthodox Church.

Peace and blessings!

Answer 2

I'm guessing it's because of Paul's words in the New Testament, saying that it if someone is unmarried, they should stay unmarried, etc. A Catholic friend told me that they were, at one point, allowed to marry, but I don't have a source to actually back that claim up. However, what I find strange about the whole thing is that GOD ordained marriage long before the first temple or New Testament church came about. God made Adam and Eve for each other, and pronounced their coming together to be good. It doesn't make sense to me that a priest isn't permitted to get married before he becomes a priest. Yet, if he gets married, and then gets the "call" later in life, they let him marry. What is the difference in the timing of when he got married? Some say that being married will distract a man from his work for the kingdom. However, if he chooses a wife who shares his heart for the church, it can be a great blessing. His wife can be a great blessing to the women of the church. His people can see what a loving, Christian marriage is supposed to look like, so when they come to him for marriage counseling, the woman has a woman to talk to, not just the priest! Although not always showcased, the Bible shows how a godly woman can make a vivid impact on history (Rahab, Esther). Allowing priests to marry can also make the church feel like a more safer place for women. My guess, if I had to make a guess, would be because they wanted to keep women out of the church. Either that, or they wanted the priesthood to become a convenient cover for homosexuals, so men who were not straight could enter the priesthood and be celibate for their entire lives, and it would not seem strange. Please take no offense to that statement.

Answer 3

Sexual attraction to a child, a young person, is a sickness, it is welded into the brain, a drive which the afflicted can't easy 'cure.' The majority of child molesters are straight males who assault little girls, too often daughters. But, yes, while I'm not Catholic, in fact, I am an atheist, I really think the RCC should not brush aside a dialog on married priests. I know myself that marriage makes life happier, more fulfilled. What may have worked during the Dark Ages should remain in the Dark Ages--this is the 21st-century.

Answer 4

There ARE married ministers who commit sexual crimes against children. Here in my small town in Nebraska, we had a Lutheran pastor do it not too long ago, plus three, count 'em, three youth ministers from the same Assemblies of God church. Both those churches allow married preachers, so marriage isn't a cure-all.

Also, consider that the number one category of child sexual predators is "fathers/stepfathers." You know, the guys who are married to the mothers of the victims.

Marriage isn't a "cure" for people who have a taste for sex with minors. In fact, some psychologists think there IS no cure for that sexual desire. They just have to practice self control and never act on their sexual urges.

....Which, btw, is something that Catholic priests are trained to do. With their vow of celibacy, they are trained to practice self control so they will not act on their sexual urges. Granted, there were some criminals who pretended to become Catholic priests so they could gain access to adolescents for their abusive desires, but these men were not upholding a vow of celibacy. MOST priests do, MOST priests do not have sex with ANYbody and make self-control over their sexual desires a constant way of life.

Answer 5

I think it's time that the Vatican realizes that they need to let their clergy marry. There are married priests in many dioceses, some were Protestant ministers who converted and joined the church, so there are exceptions. While they can remain married, if the spouse dies or they divorce, the priest cannot remarry.

As far as a sexual outlet goes, Jimmy Swaggart strayed off the reservation, so there's always that chance.

Answer 6

Priests were married in the Catholic Church for the first 1600 years. I doubt if this would be the answer to the question of child abuse since most abuse comes from family members, (married and single) or from adults the child knows.

Answer 7

Yes, I definitely do. This might prevent a lot of that stuff from happening. The priesthood apparently attracts a lot of gay men who see it as an alternate lifestyle. Perhaps if priests were allowed to marry, then it would attract fewer gays and there would not be as may cases of abuse such as those in California recently.

Answer 8

Hey RJ - If the church decides it. I dont think marrying has anything to do with it - the church doesn't have a higher percentage of pedophiles than any other organization - it just gets publicized more - there are a lot of pedophiles in public schools, for example, but you don't hear about them as often.

Love Jack

Answer 9

I don't think it is a sin that priest marry. I think they should have the option. The ones that molest have a spiritual illness (demons) and being married would not help one way or another. They need deliverance. I believe that God is allowing all the hidden sins of the churches and its followers to be revealed. He is preparing for an end time revival. This is a wake up call to get right. What we do in secret is going to be shout from the rooftops. We can no longer sin in secret, He will reveal it and we are going to be embarrassed and hopefully repent.

Answer 10

A married pedophile is still a pedophile. Most of these people are sick BEFORE they join the priesthood, and choose the profession as a good hiding place. If a priest wants a wife, just stop being a priest.