Why Catholic Pastors are not married?

Answer 1

There is no such thing as a Catholic 'Pastor'.
There are Priests, Bishops, Cardinals, Popes, and Deacons, but no pastors.

Answer 2

I believe it has a lot to do with some early misunderstanding of scripture. Peter was supposed to be the first "Pope"; but someone must have overlooked the fact that scripture says that Simon Peter had a mother-in-law! How could the Roman Catholic Church have missed that?

Also, Paul was seemingly single, yet advocated marriage for many of the early Christians and gave advice about the relationship of husbands and wives. More modern theories speculate that Paul's wife decided to leave her marriage to such a zealous Jew as Saul of Tarsus, when he had the revelation that Jesus was *indeed* the long-awaited Messiah and became a dedicated "Follower of the Way", as early Christians were called.

I haven't studied, in depth, why the Eastern church, the Orthodox, split off from the Western church, the Catholics; but it is interesting that Orthodox priests are free to marry as are Anglican Priests, as well as the clergy of most other Christian denominations.

To the person, who answered that Roman Catholicism doesn't have "pastors", I have "always" thought that when a priest was pastoring a local congregation, he was often called a pastor, as well as a priest.

As far back as the first few centuries that Roman Catholicism spread into Switzerland, there is authentic record that the men of that country did their best to obtain mistresses or concubines for the priests so that the priests would leave their wives alone! There is also evidence that some convents and monasteries had unmarked graves of babies who were probably the newborn or aborted children of nuns and priests, cardinals, etc.

It's always been a mystery to me how a man who has never been married could presume to give meaningful pre-marital or marital advice or counseling to a husband or a wife or to a married couple!

Answer 3

While there is no such thing as a Catholic Pastor, I know what you are trying to ask here, I think. While not Catholic, I was raised in the Catholic church.

Catholic Priests, also called Father, follow the Catholic doctrine of not marrying. The Bible does state that it is best for one not to marry, stating that they then focus on serving the Lord, where someone married, cannot only focus on God, but on their wife, or husband, etc. Also, Jesus' followers were all unmarried.

Answer 4

This question involves history and theology, so we will treat the answer in those parts as well.

In the early church it had become a custom for some priests not to marry, while others did. If one wanted to be a bishop, you had to remain celibate, which made it popular for the ambitious to refrain from marriage. At the same time, bishops in Europe were becoming wealthy landowners who provided for their pastors. Bishops realized that it was more expensive to provide for a priest and his family, so over time the Western Church made it a formal requirement for priests to remain celibate - or unmarried.

To justify this position, the Church rightly pointed to the fact that this tradition of celibacy existed from the beginning, though not a requirement. The first argument put forth was that since Jesus remained unmarried and he is the eternal high priest, it follows that priests should remain unmarried. The problem with that argument is that Jesus was also poor, so it follows that priests who follow Him should be poor as well. As you can imagine, that didn't fly too well for the wealthy bishops.

There are some valid arguments for celibacy. I have an Anglican priest friend who is married and he supports the celibacy requirement in the Roman Catholic Church. He sees himself divided in his loyalties and isn't full time for the Church. The advantage of the celibate priest is that he is more available for the needs of his flock. So from a practical point of view it makes sense. Any attempts to theologize it falls flat.

Answer 5

Back before about 1300 the catholic breed of scammer used to get married, amass wealth and on his death his wife and kids got the spoils.

The Holy Catholic Crutch didn't like this - they reckoned THEY should get all the booty so they outlawed marriage for priests.

[edit]
I noticed some posters trying to find justification in 'the scriptures' and other theories.
It's all about Power and Money - imagine if the bible said something like 'it is easier for a camel through the eye of the needle to enter, than for a rich man to enter into the reign of God' ... do you really expect church businesses to give all their money away?
Would you really expect all the church leaders and televangelists to 'go poor'?

No. It was about Power and Money - that's all.

Answer 6

"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 hot iron; 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." -1st Timothy 4:1-3

What religion teaches it's members not to eat meat (such as during Lent)? Catholicism. What religion forbids its priests from getting married? Catholicism. One of the great wonders of the world to me is how anyone could claim to be a Catholic and still believe the Bible is God's Word.


"Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." -Jesus, Mark 7:9

Answer 7

The celibate clergy did not come into full bloom until about 1000 C.E. There were married and celibate priests, bishops, and popes before this time.

Priests, religious brothers and religious sisters (nuns) as part of their vocation choose not to marry following:
+ The practice recommended in the Bible
+ The example of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, and the Apostle Paul.

+++ Scripture +++

In Matthew 19:12, Jesus says, "Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it."

In Matthew 19:29, Jesus says, "And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life."

Matthew 22:30 - Jesus explains, "At the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the angels in heaven."

In 1 Corinthians 7:1, Paul writes, "It is a good thing for a man not to touch a woman."

Then in 1 Corinthians 7:7, Paul says, "Indeed, I wish everyone to be as I am."

In 1 Corinthians 7:27, Paul writes, "Are you free of a wife? Then do not look for a wife."

In 1 Corinthians 7:32-33, Paul teaches, "I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife." And in verse 38, "So then, the one who marries his virgin does well; the one who does not marry her will do better."

Paul recommends celibacy for full time ministers in the Church so that they are able to focus entirely upon God and building up His kingdom. He “who refrains from marriage will do better.”

See also 1 Timothy 5:9-12, 2 Timothy 2:3-4, Revevation 14:4, Isaiah 56:3-7, and Jeremiah 16:1-4.

+++ Scriptural Examples +++

Biblical role models of a celibate clergy came from John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Apostle Paul.

John the Baptist and Jesus are both believed to have been celibate for their entire lives. Some scholars believe that the example of the Essenes influenced either or both Jesus and John the Baptist in their celibacy.

WWJD? What would Jesus do? Jesus did not marry.

The Apostle Paul is explicit about his celibacy (see 1 Cor. 7). There is also evidence in the gospel of Matthew for the practice of celibacy among at least some early Christians, in the famous passage about becoming “eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:12).

The concept took many twists and turns over the years and will probably take a few more before Christ returns in glory.

A priest is "married" to the Church. Some people think that a priest who takes his duties seriously cannot take proper care of a wife and family. "A man cannot serve two masters."

With love in Christ.

Answer 8

Roman Catholic Priests don't marry because of the way the Roman Catholic Church interprets verses in 1 Corinthians where Paul warns that people who are married cannot fully devote there time to God, because they have to devote so much time to each other. He also says that he wishes all people were able to live as he did (in celibacy).

1 Corinthians 7:32-35

32I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

Answer 9

they are married to their church. just as some people are married to their jobs while others their spouses -- you can only serve one master. they need to give 110% to their parish. if you ever spent time within a diocesean priests home/rectory you would understand - thy are on call for their parishioners 24 hours a day 7 days a week. it's a very hectic pace and life. they are barely able to have a life, let alone a wife.

Answer 10

Celibacy is Church Practice, Not Dogma
Matt. 19:11-12 - Jesus says celibacy is a gift from God and whoever can bear it should bear it. Jesus praises and recommends celibacy for full-time ministers in the Church. Because celibacy is a gift from God, those who criticize the Church's practice of celibacy are criticizing God and this wonderful gift He bestows on His chosen ones.

Matt. 19:29 - Jesus says that whoever gives up children for the sake of His name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. Jesus praises celibacy when it is done for the sake of His kingdom.

Matt. 22:30 - Jesus explains that in heaven there are no marriages. To bring about Jesus' kingdom on earth, priests live the heavenly consecration to God by not taking a wife in marriage. This way, priests are able to focus exclusively on the spiritual family, and not have any additional pressures of the biological family (which is for the vocation of marriage). This also makes it easier for priests to be transferred to different parishes where they are most needed without having to worry about the impact of their transfer on wife and children.

1 Cor 7:1 – Paul teaches that it is well for a man not to touch a woman. This is the choice that the Catholic priests of the Roman rite freely make.

1 Cor. 7:7 - Paul also acknowledges that celibacy is a gift from God and wishes that all were celibate like he is.

1 Cor. 7:27 – Paul teaches men that they should not seek marriage. In Paul’s opinion, marriage introduces worldly temptations that can interfere with one’s relationship with God, specifically regarding those who will become full-time ministers in the Church.

1 Cor. 7:32-33, 38 - Paul recommends celibacy for full-time ministers in the Church so that they are able to focus entirely upon God and building up His kingdom. He “who refrains from marriage will do better.”

1 Tim. 3:2 - Paul instructs that bishops must be married only once. Many Protestants use this verse to prove that the Church's celibacy law is in error. But they are mistaken because this verse refers to bishops that were widowers. Paul is instructing that these widowers could not remarry. The verse also refers to those bishops who were currently married. They also could not remarry (in the Catholic Church's Eastern rite, priests are allowed to marry; celibacy is only a disciplinary rule for the clergy of the Roman rite). Therefore, this text has nothing to do with imposing a marriage requirement on becoming a bishop.

1 Tim. 4:3 - in this verse, Paul refers to deceitful doctrines that forbid marriage. Many non-Catholics also use this verse to impugn the Church's practice of celibacy. This is entirely misguided because the Catholic Church (unlike many Protestant churches) exalts marriage to a sacrament. In fact, marriage is elevated to a sacrament, but consecrated virginity is not. The Church declares marriage sacred, covenantal and lifegiving. Paul is referring to doctrines that forbid marriage and other goods when done outside the teaching of Christ and for a lessor good. Celibacy is an act of giving up one good (marriage and children) for a greater good (complete spiritual union with God).

1 Tim. 5:9-12 - Paul recommends that older widows take a pledge of celibacy. This was the beginning of women religious orders.

2 Tim. 2:3-4 - Paul instructs his bishop Timothy that no soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim his to satisfy the One who enlisted him. Paul is using an analogy to describe the role of the celibate priesthood in the Church.

Rev. 14:4 - unlike our sinful world of the flesh, in heaven, those consecrated to virginity are honored.

Isaiah 56:3-7 - the eunuchs who keep God's covenant will have a special place in the kingdom of heaven.

Jer. 16:1-4 - Jeremiah is told by God not to take a wife or have children.