Question for Roman Catholics:?

Question

Would you support allowing Catholic Priests to get married? If not, why not? I am especially interested in the views of any Catholic Priests or people thinking about being Catholic Priests who may me reading this question.

I myself, am not a Roman Catholic.

Answer 1

I am a Catholic, and I personally don't have a problem with married clergy. There are some priests who come from other traditions into the Catholic priesthood who are already married, and the Church doesn't dissolve such marriages. I met an ex-Protestant minister who's now openly practicing as a Catholic priest, and he has a wife and several children. His status as a family man doesn't seem to make him any less a priest.

Answer 2

i'm a praticing Catholic who spent a lot of time around te rectory and with my parish priests. there are some priests who convert from other denominations who ARE married with children - they are ofteni n smaller parishes for uprooting the family and such is not a good thought. i saw what the priests go through and quite honestly - could not handle that as a wife. just this past Christmas we were going to take our pastor out to a family dinner with our whole group.... he couldn't come, a parishioner had died and he was doing the evening services. another time he was going on a much needed vacation - again, couldn't go ddue to parishioner needs. the diocesean priests time is spent in prayers morning and evening, parish duties and mass throughout the day as well as, visiting the sick and homebound and being on call 24.7.
those who are married understand that in a relationship - the caouple/family comes first. people say it's 50/50. come on people, when you gave 50% in school you failed! you have to give 100% for the perfect life or at least 85% for passing ; ) They have to give 110% to their parishioners - ours has over 1700 families!!
the priests gives his life to God in servitude. single people are called to celebacy - it can be done and doe s NOT promote child abuse. that is completely absurd. the problem in the Catholic church with the priests is only more visable because of the media. do some searching and you will find it rampant among married people as well - teachers, parents, siblings, etc.
trust me when i say.... celebacy isn't such a bad thing!

Answer 3

I'm not Catholic. But you'll notice that a lot of Orthodox priests are barely making enough to pay their bills, and many Orthodox Churches have no priests. Part of that is because they can't afford to support both priests and their families.

Answer 4

I think Catholic priests should be allowed to marry. I think if there were married men in the Church, there would be fewer pedophiles. I would also like to see a married Pope. The Pope is not in touch with today's reality, insofar as the views of birth control, etc. The Church would bring more backsliders back to the fold if they understood that a couple cannot support a huge family, and advocated family planning other than the "rhythm method".

Answer 5

I would probably support it, but I understand the theological and Scriptural basis for requiring celibate priests.

At the same time, the Priesthood of the Latin Rite is unique in Christendom, and is a concrete testament to the Reign of God on Earth.

Dr. Paul, below... The Catholic Church does not forbid marriage. Have you not heard of the Catholic Sacrament of Holy Matrimony? You see, Dr., the Catholic Church teaches that the Priesthood and Marriage are both Sacred Vocations. You can do one, but not both. You are twisting God's Word to suit your own biased agenda. Shame on you.

Answer 6

Allow me to point something out which Scripture says per 1 Tim 4:6 "If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed." (It doesn't say you won't get a bunch of thumbs- down from Roman Catholics.)
Now the earlier verses: 1 Timothy 4:1-3
>The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. THEY FORBID PEOPLE TO MARRY and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

I will not even comment, but let the Scriptures speak for themselves. And no, I am not Roman Catholic, but needed to "do" 1 Tim 4:6.
GO AHEAD AND THUMBS DOWN GOD'S WORD!

ADDITIONAL INFO:>Celibacy of the priests was often practiced in earlier centuries, but had not been required and enforced until the 11th century by Pope Gregory VII. (Did God change his mind all of a sudden???) At the time of its enforcement, many priests (at least in Germany) were married. Marriages were forcebly broken up by the Catholic Church at this time. Often priests that refused to submit to this rule were EXECUTED!!!
SOURCE> Augsburg Confession Article XXIII

Answer 7

My parents are staunch Roman Catholics and they think it's a good idea. They even think women priests are a good idea. They are very very liberal outside the church though. Personally, I think it will probably never happen, but that any priest that can get some is better than a priest looking at little boys.

Answer 8

I'm definitely NOT a Catholic so I say......do people really wonder why there's all these problems with Priests abusing little boys and girls?! It's because they are supposed to be married!!!! The Israelite priests were allowed to marry and nowhere did Yah change that!! It is an unnatural and MANMADE ordinance to say priests can't get married!!

Answer 9

Yes, I think it is acceptable and would not interfere with his work in ministry if he discerns properly and marries a woman who understands and shares his faith realizing he could be called away at any given moment especially in emergencies. Doctors, lawyers, police and coroners manage this arrangement. Even though scripture states it is better to be undivided in your attention, God would not be marking papers so to speak as to who spent a little more time on something than another. It is the purity of intention and sincerity of the calling that is important. One can love God in any walk of life and it is not our place to meansure that love. I have seen Orthodox priests with family that seem to integrate better into their church communities having a better understanding of family, joys and sorrows, worries and commitments therefore sharing more and being there more as one of them instead of a separation with some gaps in understanding.

Answer 10

No I do not Catholic priests are married to Christ in spirit