Why can't Catholic priests get married?

Question

Some of the apostles were married and Jesus hand-picked them.

Protestants and others manage to juggle their work and their family life

Answer 1

The real reason? The medieval church got fed up with losing Church property to the wives and families of dead priests and changed the rules so that there was no-one to inherit Church property but the Church.

Answer 2

Mark A - your answer is misleading. Even though it may have been part of the reasoning of the early church it is hardly THE reason that celibacy is required. There are many more biblical and spiritual reasons than the one you site. The reason you give is usually given by the secular world and those who promote married priests.

Priests (of the Latin rite) do not marry because they make the total sacrifice of themselves to God. They follow the example of Christ, who also, was not married.

The sacrament of marriage is considered a vocation. People who are called to this vocation, are doing the will of God. But to offer this up as a sacrifice is even better. If marriage were not a holy institution, sacrificing it would not be acceptable. But it is, and the sacrifice a priest makes for God puts him in a position to confer the grace he receives to the followers of Christ.

http://www.catholic.com/library/Celibacy_and_the_Priesthood.asp

By the way, there are some married priests. Most of them are converts from Protestant religions and already married. Additonally, deacons can be married but only if they were already married when they became a deacon. If a single man desires to become a deacon...once he does he cannot get married.

Priests and deacons are not forced into this vocation. Any and all of them can choose another life that does not require celibacy. When they make their vows they know fully well what the cost is.

Answer 3

They choose not to marry. The Church recognizes that marriage is natural and good, but that purity for the sake of the Kingdom is higher.

Christ never married. Why not? Because he wanted his only commitment (relationship) to be with his Father in Heaven.

If someone has difficulties with chastity, self-control, anger, he shouldn't be a priest, and seminaries should be able to detect this. This was the root of scandals in the last century, not priestly celibacy.

**Final clarification, priests of the Roman Rite do not marry, priests of other rites may, but all Bishops must be celibate. No priests are allowed to marry after ordination. Finally, this is not Church Teaching, but what is called Church Discipline.

Answer 4

The celibate clergy did not come into full bloom until about 1000 C.E. There were many married 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."

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.

+ 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."

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.

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

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.

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

This is the choice that the Catholic priests of the Roman rite freely make.

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

Paul acknowledges that celibacy is a gift from God and wishes that all were celibate like he is.

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

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.

+ 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
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 5

Good question? I hope a knowledgeable Catholic answers you, because I'm curious myself.

Paul taught in the New Testament that it would be good for an Evangelst not to marry, but if he chose to, to just have one wife. I feel that Paul taught this because he felt that possibly marriage could have distracted a person, at that time, from putting in 100% toward the spread of the good news of Jesus Christ, but I could be wrong (I usually am). This didn't imply in any way shape or form that marriage of a pastor or preacher was a sin.

I don't get it either.

Maybe it's just a rule of their religion.

Answer 6

Catholic priests do not marry because, while Christ does indeed approve of marriage for the Christian clergy, He much prefers that they do not marry. He made this quite clear when He praised the Apostles for giving up ``all'' to follow Him, saying, ``And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.'' (Matt. 19:27-29). The Apostle Paul explained why the unmarried state is preferable to the married state for the Christian clergy: ``He that is without a wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God. But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided.'' (1 Cor. 7:32-33). In other words, matrimony is good-- Christ made it one of the holy sacraments of His Church--but it is not conducive to that complete dedication which is incumbent upon those who submit themselves to another of Christ's holy sacraments--that of Holy Orders. Even so, the unmarried state of the Catholic priesthood is not an inflexible law--under certain conditions a priest may be dispensed from this law.

Answer 7

Catholic Priests including Pope is not taking Bible as their main book. They consider their own doctrines as main book.
Bible is against the doctrine of ban in marriage.
Priests are doing against the will of God. Let us pray for them

Answer 8

They choose not to. Priests love God more than a woman.

Answer 9

Who gave you the idea? Your pastor?

(JFI, there are Married Catholic priests)

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070509/27312_Married_Catholic_Priest_Ordained_via_Little-Known_Exception.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4308741.stm
http://www.renewedpriesthood.org/page.cfm?Web_ID=5

Answer 10

Mark A: your answer makes so much sense!

Its heartbreaking to see a religion fall so far off the right path.