ANSWERS: 8
  • For now, the Church and the Pope say no. End of discussion. Want to marry? No problem. Find a new profession other than Roman Catholic priest. +5
  • I think it would attract a better class of person to the priesthood. Priests used to get married, but it was forbidden when Bishops started promoting their sons.
  • Yes it would eliminate many things. I used to work with a guy once who was gay and atheists. He told me that he almost went into the priesthood because the church takes care of your every need, people love and respect you with out really having to do anything, and the gay sex is never stopping and free. He said he could just fake all of the God stuff.
  • Sure,they are not monks.
  • 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. With love in Christ.
  • those that are priests and cannot retain their celibacy should acknowledge their weakness and get out. It is not fault for them for they seek a gift which is not theirs. 1 Corinthians 7:9 but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. Mark 9:42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.
  • Ill proubly get into trouble for this but I feel they should...Maybe it might stop some of assaults on young boys.
  • If you research history and the Roman Catholic Church, you will find that at one time Marriage was a requirement for priests and Bishops. Married priests were forced to either divorce their wives or leave them without support after the pope of the day declaired chastity a requirement for the priesthood. I definately believe that it would only help the image of the RCC if they allowed marriage to enter the cloisters of the priesthood.

Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC

Answerbag | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy