The reason why I am asking this is because priest numbers in the catholic church has been falling for a number of years and something has to be done to boost the numbers or the church will die. I think allowing a priest to marry isn't taking anything away from the church or its parish I am a catholic and proud and I have no objections to my local priest being married. In other churches other clergy are married and it works for their churches. Didn't I read somewhere that earlt on in the catholic church history catholic priest were allowed to marry. I maybe wrong. In fact in the eastern catholic have long since allowed married people to become priest why not the roman catholic church.
2007-07-25 04:25:23 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes. Very much so. Until the eleventh century, MOST Catholic priests were married...Roman, Eastern, Anglican. I think it is a mistake to try and enforce mandatory celibacy (although I am fully aware and understand the Church of Rome's position of the matter)
2007-07-25 04:31:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Personally, I don't care one way or the other, but on the other hand, I also understand the reasoning behind it.
As for the Church dying because of the shortage of priests - that won't happen. WE are the Church.
There are some married Roman Catholic priests - men who have converted.
2007-07-25 11:29:45 · answer #2 · answered by SpiritRoaming 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For Catholics to reverse tradition would be like asking a Christian to reverse what he believes about the Bible. Catholics believe that church tradition is equal in authority to Scripture. Therefore their tradition of priests not marrying is indispensible.
It was an error in doctrine based on a misunderstanding about what Paul said and it shouldve never happened to begin with. Now because if it, they have a bunch of priests that have become pedophiles.
2007-07-25 11:41:30 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I am not Catholic but, it seems to me that changing this policy would do much to restore what has been damaged through the child molestation issue. If priests could marry, more of them would have an outlet for their sexual desires. Less perversion would occur, (though not completely go away) and the poor priests would not "burn" like Paul says in the Bible. Celibacy is probably the hardest thing to maintain. As a protestant, I don't see the benefit of it. I think God is not so impressed with it either. But that is just my opinion.
2007-07-25 11:35:37 · answer #4 · answered by Yo C 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You are right: long long ago, priests were allowed to marry.
I would love to see an order (or maybe a couple of orders) of married priests. That way the community of priests who choose celebacy can support each other while those who are married have a similiar network.
2007-07-25 11:30:16 · answer #5 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not Catholic, but I am 100% for married priests.
2007-07-25 11:29:21 · answer #6 · answered by Ruth 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
But homosexuals aren't allowed to marry.
I know a straight guy who dropped out of seminary (root word semen...hmmm) because he said the place was full of homosexuals who were engaging in sex with one another and hitting on him all the time. This is anecdotal evidence and perhaps he exaggerated, but I believe there is at least something to what he said.
I am homosexual friendly, but this is just bold-faced hypocrisy and loyalty to petrified opinion. Jesus never said anything about keeping the church male.
2007-07-25 11:41:41 · answer #7 · answered by Peter D 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
That is a complicated issue to address in one paragraph. There is a great article that addresses this matter at: http://www.catholic.com/library/celibacy_and_the_priesthood.asp
2007-07-25 11:29:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
No , I'd kinda like seeing the catholic church go away.
2007-07-25 11:30:56 · answer #9 · answered by discombobulated 5 · 1⤊ 5⤋
RC gained their strength through pedophiles, they don't want any moral married guys messing things up for them.
2007-07-25 11:29:08 · answer #10 · answered by PoseidenNeptuneReturns 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋