Just because they are men of God doesn't mean they should deprive themselves from having a wife and kids.
2007-12-21 08:40:59 · 33 answers · asked by Bachata Mouse 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Both Jesus and Paul were unmarried men who devoted their lives to serving the Father. They did not take a wife so they would not be distracted away from the will of God. Priests are following their example
2007-12-21 08:46:12 · answer #1 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Well...
There are a few isolated cases in current times where Catholic priests are married - usually, they're married ministers from Apostolic churches somewhat similar to Catholicism that wind up converting and get a special dispensation from the Pope to remain married and be a priest. If I recall correctly, however, they cannot become bishops and they cannot remarry if their wife dies.
But the rule about priests not being married isn't really anything about it being right or wrong - heck, Peter was married at one point. I think its more a fairness question - the priest can't properly devote all of himself to both a wife and the Church, so its not fair to either.
2007-12-21 09:09:34 · answer #2 · answered by d_and_n5000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Interestingly, I was watching a PBS special about the very topic some years ago just flipping through the channel and I was surprised to find out that priests were allowed to marry many centuries ago. This went on until the priests were so consumed with sexual relations that the church no longer allowed marriages and enforced celibacy. However, I can't remember if this was with the Roman Catholic church or not. Maybe someone here can fill in the blanks.
2007-12-21 08:48:45 · answer #3 · answered by ronin_wasabi 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
woman clergymen - do no longer think of so. The shape of the Church is purely too patriarchal. ability is purely too centred contained in the male hierarchy of the Church. Married clergymen - many all human beings is unaware that the Catholic Church already facilitates clergymen to marry, in the event that they are going to Africa, as missionaries. (this is the only clarification for the vow of celibacy to be broken among lively clergymen). If an lively priest outdoors Africa chooses to marry, he can exchange non secular denominations which word the Anglican or 'Episcopalian' ceremony of Christian worship. As to accepting Gays & Lesbians - i do no longer be attentive to. Its no longer worry-free already for the Church to settle for the fact that some members of the priesthood are Pederasts or Paedophiles.
2016-11-04 05:48:15 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When big changes like that are made to the Catholic church, it becomes a new church. Things like this have happened before and that is how other sects were formed. The Anglican church formed when the King wanted a divorce and the Catholic church wouldn't let him. There is no point working to allow priests to marry.
2007-12-21 08:44:18 · answer #5 · answered by summer 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Yes. It would prevent a lot of sexual abuses that's going on behind the alter. For centuries, sexual misconducts were going on behind the curtain for vast majority of clergymen in Catholic church and Catholic church has turn their blind eyes to them for centuries. Priests in midevil ages had bastard son and daughters from there housekeepers, servants and midwives.
Plus, the dimishing number of new priests is due to modern technology and fast moving information technology. Clergies cannot hide their shame as easily as they did in the 15th century. Perhaps it would do well for some discilpline of Catholic Priesthood be opened to marriage.
Furthermore, a celibacy is not Biblical at all. Paul said that it is good for men to be married but for himself if chose to be celibat. The celibacy was enforced during the early church to control the church's wealth. If bishops and priests, who were in possession of a lot of wealth, had heirs, the church would lose wealth due to inheiritance. They wanted to control this and mandated all clergies to be celibat so that vast wealth of the church remained with the church.
2007-12-21 08:45:29 · answer #6 · answered by Traveler 5 · 8⤊ 1⤋
The RC Church only banned marriage for it's priests to avoid the prospect of losing property through inheritance
2007-12-21 08:47:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes. Right now, the rule is that Catholic priests must be straight, but yet not allowed to use their bongos. Doesn't make much sense.
The Episcopal church is a bit more up to date with their priests.
2007-12-21 08:45:35 · answer #8 · answered by thezaylady 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Yeah, the ban against marriage was started because they didn't want children inheriting wealth that the church wanted to keep. It was never about anything but money.
The best thing that could happen to the Catholic church would be for people to leave it alone and let it die on the vine. I say this as a recovering Catholic.
2007-12-21 08:45:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
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.
2007-12-24 02:34:16 · answer #10 · answered by Daver 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋