I believe we have a lot of sexually frustrated priests here in the US and abroad. Many of Jesus' apostles were married, and I don't believe that Jesus preached that preachers in the church could not marry. The Catholic faith is a cult and not the true church as the Pope has recently annouced. Amazes me that there are so many blind followers of a church that has been plaqued by these nasty priests. How can they worship and not wonder who their priest is abusing. I'm sure there are many priest out there that have not been turned in to the authorities. I live in a small town in KS, and we have had two priests who were brought to trial in the last 10 years. How can any rational person believe that the Pope is a desendent of Jesus? He's just a man that has been given too much power. He is no more holy than you or I. I feel that their sick traditions need to come to an end.
2007-07-17 01:56:17 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You are correct in your observation, Roxie:
In fact this subject has been debated by Catholics for centuries. Some priests were married and the church almost divided over the issue. They notice that Peter was married: Matthew 8:14
"And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever."
But tradition prevailed and they were required to turn their wives and children away or renounce the priesthood.
We have all heard of retreats where the priest go for "recreation", and the lime pits and fountains with drowned babies, but to uphold the historical position seems vogue at this time.
Some feel the Bible speaks prophetically of the unmarried priesthood and abstaining of meat on Friday in these verses of 1 Timothy 4:1:
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
4:2 "Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
4:3 "Forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth."
The only prophecy in the Bible that says you can not understand it until the 'end of the days' tells more: http://abiblecode.tripod.com
Blessings and peace, Balaam
2007-07-17 02:07:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe much the same as you. Jesus never said for a holy man not to marry and in fact it says that man was not meant to be alone and that this is why he made a help mate for him.
It doesn't say, except for Priests.....
I think the Catholic religion has many inconsistancies with the bible and that although there are many followers, because the church is very social and homey and they make you feel like you are being closer to God just by showing up, they are confusing the masses. There is very little scripture taught and a whole lot of reciting of the same thing over and over much of the people not even knowing what it means. The collection of money that takes place is phenominal... and it's just a bit unlike the biblical information that I've studied from the bible. I don't get it.
2007-07-17 02:03:52 · answer #2 · answered by sassinya 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was taught that in the old days of the Catholic Church priests were allowed to marry, but ti became a problem of land ownership. When Priests died their land, which previously belonged to the church, would pass down to their wives and children and the church was losing too much property.
The Catholic Church to me is a large corporation rather than a religious entity. There was a time when you could buy forgiveness for your sins in advance. You would pay a certain amount and it was like you had one free sin. Essentially a get out of jail free card for the church. Seems like hypocrisy to me.
I think priests are a weird bunch. When you choose the priesthood you go into it knowing that you can't be having any sex. There is already something wrong with a person who can make that choice.
2007-07-17 02:04:50 · answer #3 · answered by kingsteve14 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sorry that you feel the Catholic Church is a cult, but that is your opinion. As a Catholic, I am very tired of the constant hounding of our priests by the media and anti-Catholics. There are statistics showing the pedophilia among Protestants is much higher than among Catholics, but we never hear that in the news. There are statistics that pedophilia is much higher among married couples (who can have all the sex they want), but we never hear that in the news. It’s always Catholic Catholic Catholic…
Since it’s obvious that pedophilia is not a condition born from celibacy, maybe we should start working and praying to end this scourge for all people, married or not.
As far as Her Sacred Traditions, the teachings of the Church have nothing to do with the scandals. The Faith is what we should be focused on, and not sinful men. The men do not define the Faith.
2007-07-20 06:47:47 · answer #4 · answered by Danny H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think that priests should not marry. If the Catholic Church laws do not allow priests to get married then those men who desire to marry should not join priesthood at all. No one is forced into the priesthood and so when one makes up his mind to be a priest, he should understand properly what he is signing up for. If a priest feels that time has come for him to marry he should quietly quit the vocation and do as his heart desires. Being a Priest is not a 9-5 job where you go home at night to your family and will pick up the work the next day. No, a priest is someone who has devoted their life entirely to God. What it means to be a priest is the WILLINGNESS TO SACRIFICE YOUR LIFE, SO THAT OTHERS MAY FIND LIFE. In marriage you give of your WHOLE self to your spouse. In ordination you give of your WHOLE self to God. If there were a crisis in your home and at the Church, whom do you serve??
2007-07-17 02:01:46 · answer #5 · answered by Hitesh Dhanwani 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wonder. However, I don't believe that priests become paedophiles. I believe that some paedophiles become priests. Does that make sense? They are attracted to the priesthood because of the fact that they don't have to marry women?
2007-07-17 02:05:33 · answer #6 · answered by True Blue Brit 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, allowing priests to marry will not solve the sexual abuse problem. 77% of child molesters are married men.
How can you send your children to public school, where your child is 100 times more likely to be sexually abused?
2007-07-17 02:10:10 · answer #7 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think not. Pedophiles are attracted to the priesthood because of the power and access to children. It wouldn't matter if they were married or not. This same problem is rife among Protestant preachers as well.
2007-07-17 03:39:50 · answer #8 · answered by nom de paix 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, a whole lot of pedophiles are married men. So, although I feel it would be better if priests married, no, it wouldn't solve the problem. A pedophile is a pedophile, no matter what their marital status.
2007-07-17 02:00:10 · answer #9 · answered by mommanuke 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If they can't handle celibacy, then they should realize they're in the wrong business.
The no-marriage crap is from the middle ages when the catholic church stole all their priests' property and found it easier if there was no spouse to contest it.
2007-07-17 01:59:37 · answer #10 · answered by One Voice In The Day Rings True 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋