How Come The Roman Catholic Priests Cannot Marry?

Question

Between the 3 main religions, Christianity, Judiasm, and Islam, the Roman Catholic demonination of Christianity is the only one that doesn't allow its clergy to marry as well as female priests.

I suspect the motive is not at all religious and that it comes from a strict business perspective. My take on it as that if the priest is not married and has no children then he has no heirs to take over anything and all of the assets he has goes to the diocese. The issuw with female priests comes from the negative portrayal of women in church history and also for the fact that they do not want their priests having a "family life".

Anyone else agree?

Answer 1

Priests and even Popes used to have concubines and even children (Lucretia de Borgia-sp? was the daughter of a Pope) Monks, nuns and Priests were known throughout history to have unwed sex and even children - often fostered out after the birth when it was a nun's child. There's an old joke about the Pope going to the Library in Heaven and crying out in anguish when he discovered that someone forgot the "R" - it was supposed to be CelebRate, not Celebate! I love that one - and believe that a Priest and spiritual representative can't truly know their "flock" unless they can empathize in some way when it comes to family life - and to be honest, I don't call chocolate for the altar-boy a spouse, just doesn't count.......and a Priest simply can't know what marriage involves never having walked that path - Pastors are another story, however, and I tend to have more respect for the Paths that do allow women to officiate and that allow their ministry to marry and have families. Their ministry tends to be more well-rounded and can relate to their "flock" better - but that's just an observance from one who used to go to every church possible in a quest for the church that was the right fit - and though none ever truly fit, I do respect the more well-rounded ministries MUCH more. Human nature and all.....

Answer 2

There are very few priests in the Catholic Church that are married, one priest I know of was from a different Christian religion then converted to be Catholic with his wife and kids. He felt called to the priesthood and asked the pope if he could become a priest even though he was already married with kids. The pope said it was ok, and now he is a priest. I do not think that any religious will get married in the Catholic Church because of their vows they take. And I do not believe there will be any Female priests in the Catholic church. It's tradition to have a male priest, and that's all I honestly know with out looking it up or talking to any Catholic Clergy.

Answer 3

You are totally misinformed on several issues.
Celibacy was imposed on RC priests in the 7th century.
It was to counter the many scandals of the times.

It is strictly a matter of discipline & could be changed.
In fact, we have several priests who are married.
Most converted from other denominations.

Priests still have families, with relatives as their heirs.
Few have any assets, unless it came from the family.

A female priest is an oxy-moron (cannot happen).
Priestesses were a fixture of Pagan cults.
The sacrificial lamb was always a male.

Women are more highly respected in Christianity.
Women have been an important part of Catholic ministry.
Mary Magdalan, Joan of Arc, Teresa of Avila, Mother Teresa;
just to name a few of the greatest saints.

Answer 4

There are several reasons why a RC Priest can not marry:

1. so they can dedicate their lives to the Church and God. A priest is called at all hours of the day and night.
2. they move around quite a bit at the mercy of the Bishop, not fair to do this to a family.
3. because around AD 800 or so, it was noticed that Priests were leaving large sums of money and property (both of which belonged to the Church) to heirs, mistresses, kings, and debtors. To stop this, the Vatican said "No more marriage"

As for women, Jesus only had men for apostles, therefore only men can be priests.

Answer 5

It is the belief that the priest is to be celibate for spiritual reasons. The idea of leaving anything to heirs is also out of the question since regardless of how much he may appear to own, he owns nothing, since the church, and therefore God, owns everything. There would be nothing to be left to an heir. What differences there might be today, I have no idea. Leaving anything to an heir, however, is not of concern.
So far as having a "family life", to them, their congregation is their family, which they are often invited to join such festivities as they may care to be a part of. Your premise is faulty, and apparently borne out of ignorance. Women, on the contrary have a very positive reputation in at least the Bible, and in modern history, if one is willing to be fair, and diligent in their research.

Answer 6

I totally agree with that. It was not put down as mandatory, yet the pope states that it is! I sometimes think that the higher echelon of the church will never sanction married priest nor female priests. Too bad, they'll never know what they are missing!

Answer 7

Jesus told the Apostles to give up their families and their wordly goods and come follow Him.

Catholics interpret that to mean Priests shouldn't marry or own anything personally.

Answer 8

They are not allowed to marry for the reason that you suspect. They want all of their money to stay in the Catholic Church and not left to family.

* Celibacy of the priesthood, decreed by pope Gregory VII (Hildebrand) 1079

Answer 9

Not wishing to be unkind to the Catholic faith, I agree in part with you.The reason is the same for Nuns. They are married to God. However in the light of recent events regarding sexual abuse by Priests ;I would assert the fact that they(priests) indulge in most things ie-sex, booze and drugs.You don't really believe they are that saintly?

Answer 10

"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; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a red hot iron; Forbidding to marry ...."
(I Timothy 4:1-2).

"This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife . . . one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection"
(I Timothy 3:1-4).