Should priests marry

[Don]

You've never killed and carried dead bodies. Don't presume too much 'till you've
walked the walk of the dead and dying.

You obviously do not know anything about me. That is fine, I choose to be as anonymous as I can.

Don't presume to know enough to make judgements on others. It looks bad if you turnout to be wrong.

And don't be so smug that your experiences make your judgement superior to others. That is the cause of many conflicts today.

 

[y2kmark]

Bennie...

Priests cannot marry. Not on my watch.

I know it's just your first post and all, but remember - you're only a newbie until you post an actual review. How's the action over there in Rome??

 

[sirduke]

Laughing my ass off here

i'm catholic and no they should not....if you want to get married and serve god there are many ways to do that...you can be a minister, join the choir etc....joining the priesthood should be reserved for those who are willing to give up everything to serve god....if you are not willing to do so you should not become a priest.

Just loved this quote from a guy that posts with a picture of a hot babe taking off her top. Just something about that image along with this discussion cracks me up!!!

I spent a lot of time around both men and women in religious life. And all I can say is YES, YES, YES priests should be allowed to marry.

 

[Don]

I never made presumptions about you.
I told my story. If you choose to remain sheltered
that's your choice. My experiences were many decades
ago. I expressed my view and you attack me.

WHY?

If you've walked through the valley of death then my
personal tale should have raised memories and images.
Tell me my story is not authentic. Tell me you don't understand
the pain of the dead and suffering and tell me there isn't a search
for an explanation for the meaning of life.

Chill out DQ. You did make presumptions. You assumed I never served and saw combat and casualities which of couse is insulting to anyone who really did as I'm sure you would feel the same way.

Basically you were saying "shut up and listen to me, I know better because of my experiences." That bugged me.

As someone who has served and seen his share of horror (though admittedly in a much more minor scale than what you saw in 'nam) I certainly respect you like I respect anyone who has served.

Anyway I choose to remain sheltered simply because like 95% of members here, I prefer to be anonymous. No other special reason.

 

[Pope Benedict XVI]

Sorry for my laconic response last week. I was preparing for my first Sunday mass at St. Peter's.

As I mentioned last week, priests will not be allowed to marry. However, I am considering reinstituting the sale of indulgences. Carnal relations for priests will remain sinful, but we will determine an appropriate pennance.

 

[Guy7]

Priests

I was raised Catholic but never really practiced my faith after 16 yrs.
One thing always bothered me I always felt priests should be allowed to marry.
I think denying your sexuality is unnatural.
What does that have to do with being a good christian ?

Yaa they should be allowed to get married legally, or else what's the use when some of them get invovlved in un-desirable life style.
Marriage is a natural thing, so no one should deny this right to anyone.

 

[Diode]

i never said i could become a priest....i cant give women or money up ...but when you become a priest there are three vows you take...chastity, poverty and one other......

ASN, the other vow is obiedence!
And that's therub why Priests should not marry in the 21st century.

Unlike other Christian denominations, Priests are not hired by a congragation, but are apointed by their Bishop. They go where they are sent..no questions asked.
Now, imagine a married priest has his two kids, say 14 and 11. They live in Toronto. But his next appointment is in Sydney NS. He has two to four weeks notice. Now HE must go as he is obiedient to his Bishop.
Is this move fair to his wife and kids? NO. They may wish to stay in Toronto.
BUT he has no choice.
This is the point, a priest is "married" to the church.

Unlike other "jobs" a priest cant just quit.
It's a tough and challenging calling.

 

[booboobear]

ASN, the other vow is obiedence!
And that's therub why Priests should not marry in the 21st century.


. Now HE must go as he is obiedient to his Bishop.
Is this move fair to his wife and kids? NO. They may wish to stay in Toronto.
BUT he has no choice.
This is the point, a priest is "married" to the church.

Unlike other "jobs" a priest cant just quit.
It's a tough and challenging calling.

This is a poor reason , my Uncle was an ambassador with the U.S. governement and he was appointed to different countries and had to go or lose a very lucrative job. He had kids also , there are also lots of examples of people that relocate with kids.
I believe a lot of priests are frustrated with denying their sexuality so how can this help them serve their congregation better.
Again you are only explaining the status quo that priests now can't get married but not really giving a valid reason why a change can't be made.
I seriously believe that the kind of people willing to give up sex for life are a little odd. Anyone care to comment on this aspect.

 

[Diode]

No booboobear, It's a good Reason. Priests are not paid that much. An American ambasador is likely paid 10x the wages a Parish Priest is. To support a family, it would be likely the wife would work and make more than her husband, and have her own commitments. She may have a superb job and be very happy.

A priest is also on call 24-7 for the support of his parish.While many of us take call, we are typically on a rotation, or if worse comes to worse, we say NO to the overtime. A priest CAN NOT RISK the loss of a soul!!!!!He must go and administer the sacraments, reconciliation/ Sacrament of the sick.

Being in the US civial service is NOT like being a priest. Hell even members of the armed forces get an "out" after 5 years of service. Holy Orders , like Catholic Marriage is Forever. And what must be formost in a priests mind, is the salvation of souls, every thing else is less important.

Regarding your other point:
People deny themselves all kinds of pleasure. It may be for their imediate health ( fatty foods, smoking, booze) or for their spirtual health. It'sall whats Most important to THEM not you.

I would suggest that those of us on an escort review board, find sex very important. Comparing your desires for a fullfilled life and those of those called to the Priesthood is silly.

I suffer from a great weakness for sex. While married, and proud of it, temptation gets the better of me too often. I wish it was not so, but it is.
I have to answer for MY weakness.
Diode

 

[Bud Plug]

ASN, the other vow is obiedence!
And that's therub why Priests should not marry in the 21st century.

........................

This is the point, a priest is "married" to the church. .

I guess this point is a good illustration of why I can take no issue with religion but take very serious issue with churches and religious organizations of any denomination.

First of all, the vows we are talking about are not demanded by God. These vows are not of biblical source (assuming that the Bible contains the will of God). Therefore, it is the Catholic Church which demands these vows.

I cannot accept that a church is anything other than people who have organized to practice their faith. The Catholic Church itself is not holy, and neither are the leaders of the church. They are people just like you or I.

Rules that are made by people can be unmade by people. It's an incredible piece of circular reasoning to rely on the vows demanded by the Church as a reason why the rules applying to priests cannot be changed.

As to the "married to the church" comment, a church is not something you can be married to. A church is a construct of men. To idolize it, and thereby place it akin to God, is actually in breach of the Commandments!

Unlike other "jobs" a priest cant just quit..

What happens to a Priest who no longer wishes to serve? I can think of no way he can be forced to continue to serve.

It's a tough and challenging calling.

I'll agree with you there. What could be tougher than committing yourself to a life of helping others without tangible (earthly) reward?

However, I don't see why the calling needs to be made more difficult unnecessarily. Allowing Priests to marry would only assist them in understanding the difficulties of their congregation, particularly marital difficulties. It would help them to understand the difficulties of parenting. It would help them to understand the temptations faced by children in todays society. It has always struck me as strange, bordering on the impossible, to ask an unmarried man to counsel a couple through marital difficulties or to provide guidance to a couple about to be married.

In closing, it is natural to want to look up to priests. Sacrifice can be a noble thing. We look up to those who achieve great good by sacrifice. However a sacrifice that does not lead to great good is not, per se, noble. Asking a Priest to deny his sexual and reproductive nature is asking him to deny the essence of his humanity. No good has come of this. In fact, some evil can be attributed to it.

I cannot believe that God requires his most ardent followers to deny their basic humanity. And I certainly won't be inclined to believe it because a bunch of church members say it's so.

Sorry for the length of the post, but I'm feeling a little philosophical today.

 

[Dave in Phoenix]

From: Liberated Christians, PO Box 32835, Phoenix AZ 85064-2835 / E-mail: davephx@primenet.com (A different Dave from Phoenix)

Actually just to clarify it is the same Dave in Phoenix I just had a different E-mail address back in the 90s when I wrote what you quoted.

 

[bobistheowl]

I agree with DonQuixote, whawhawha, etc. It's all about property rights. I can't name a single prosperous country where the Catholic church is predominant. There's nothing in the Bible, Old Testament or New, which states that a Priest should not take a wife. It's just another one of those decisions that was made a long time ago, and everyone's forgotten why.

Jesus and/or his apostles may well have had wifes, if, in fact, they were real historical figures. In fact, it is the duty of a Rabbi to ber married, not just a personal choice. There's a lot in scripture which is either not mentioned or has been excised because it does not conform with the whims of those who make the rules.

 

[red]

the Vatican

 

[booboobear]

I cannot accept that a church is anything other than people who have organized to practice their faith. The Catholic Church itself is not holy, and neither are the leaders of the church. They are people just like you or I.

Rules that are made by people can be unmade by people. It's an incredible piece of circular reasoning to rely on the vows demanded by the Church as a reason why the rules applying to priests cannot be changed.




.


I cannot believe that God requires his most ardent followers to deny their basic humanity. And I certainly won't be inclined to believe it because a bunch of church members say it's so.

Sorry for the length of the post, but I'm feeling a little philosophical today.

You summed up my feelings perfectly that celibacy is man's rule not God's.
I will also go further and say it leads to strange people entering the priesthood.
Actually I meant to say I think priests should be allowed to have sex or girlfriends or marry anything but deny their humanity and their sexuality.

 

[red]

I was raised Catholic but never really practiced my faith after 16 yrs.
One thing always bothered me I always felt priests should be allowed to marry.
I think denying your sexuality is unnatural.
What does that have to do with being a good christian ?

ok they should marry, but should they marry each other?

 

[booboobear]

ok they should marry, but should they marry each other?

No . And lesbians should not have children either

 

[red]

No . And lesbians should not have children either

are you serious? why not?

 

[booboobear]

are you serious? why not?

I am deadly serious. In my opinion children are the result of a union between men and women if you don't like men you can't have children plain and simple make your choice. It's like saying you hate chickens but you want an egg.

 

[red]

so it would be better for someone like Karla Homolka to have children than a nice law abiding lesbian couple?

 

[booboobear]

so it would be better for someone like Karla Homolka to have children than a nice law abiding lesbian couple?

No I didn't say that and I don't hate lesbians live and let live. Children however result from a union between a man and woman and if you don't like mn you should not be allowed to have a kid.