What's the real reason Catholic priests aren't allowed to get married?

That's interesting, and news to me.
Can you give a good web reference?

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by palmagma on October 14th, 2009

Not really. But I when I read it (along with a whole history of the Catholic church) , it struck a chord with me so I remembered it. Sorry I can't be specific.

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by Scifisuz on October 14th, 2009

Palmagma-It is a fact that priests could marry but most chose not to attempting to live the celibate life Paul speaks of 1 Cor. The church then made a decision that priests would best serve the family of God as celibate men without divided loyalty to personal families and their parishes. Men who wanted to live celibate stayed others did not. It is however a custom of the church and could be changed back if enough priests wanted to change it back--so far they have not.

I might also note that their are married priests with families in the Catholic faith. In our Eastern rites, priest can and do marry. Also, we have a number of former Anglican and Lutheran priests who converted to Catholicism who were married with children. They were allowed to become Catholic priests and the church supports and provides for their entire family too. In fact I went to a parish where the priest was married with five children. We all gave extra because we knew were supporting the entire family not just one man. NO problem.

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by A.C. Vila on May 2nd, 2010

@A.C. Vila- Leaders in the Church of God are supposed to be the husband of one wife and have children. Since these things are not required for Catholic priests, they are not following scriptures the way that they are supposed to. This is one of the biggest reasons I will never, ever consider myself Catholic. If you wanted to know what inspired my question, that is what did.

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by AnonymousGirl on June 13th, 2010

I wonder how they deal with I Timothy 4:3.

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by AnonymousGirl on October 14th, 2009

i.e.
Timothy 4:3
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats,
which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them
which believe and know the truth.

Timothy 4:6
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things,
thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ,
nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine,
whereunto thou hast attained.

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by palmagma on October 14th, 2009

Interesting that you two quote Timothy 4:3 but ignore Paul then make leaps that don't exist. Paul said it's better if we remain celibate and devote our lives entirely to Christ. Priests in the Western rite CHOOSE to remain celibate and follow Christ. It is a supernatural calling that most of you can't imagine, your faith just isn't that strong.

Tim said not to forbid marriage. In the Catholic faith, not only is marriage NOT forbidden, it's elevated to a Sacrament, a bond God has created that no man should set aside.

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by A.C. Vila on May 2nd, 2010

"It is better to marry than to burn" should be rendered in modern translations as "it is better to marry than to pick on the altar boys".

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by HasntBeen on May 2nd, 2010

A.C. Vila- Okay, what about bishops? If bishops should be married, shouldn't priests as well?

"This *is* a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Likewise *must* the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being *found* blameless. Even so *must their* wives *be* grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." I Timothy 3:1-16 (KJV)

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by AnonymousGirl on June 12th, 2010

The "fake" reason is that the are "married to God" - that they have chosen to "forsake everything for Christ". The real reason is, as has been stated, that married priests were siphoning Church money into family dynasties. Appointing someone a bishop at 12 and Cardinal at 16 is not good theology, but at a time when the Church was hugely rich, it was good finance.

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by Im Alec has abandoned this account on May 2nd, 2010

An unmarried priest still has family. They could do the same.

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by Marky Mark on May 2nd, 2010

"Family" is not the same as children. People will do much more for their children than for their siblings.

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by Im Alec has abandoned this account on May 2nd, 2010

"Nepotism" gets it's name from (celibate) popes and bishops favouritism towards their "nephews" - not sons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepotism#Papal

Buddhist monks take a vow of celibacy too. Why? Do the Buddhists fear corruption (father-son favouritism) too?

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by Marky Mark on May 2nd, 2010

Nepotism was always a euphemism. They called them nephews because the were not supposed to have sons. But everybody knew that they were sons.

Buddhists have made the vows of poverty stick better: Buddhist monks genuinely are poor. Theirs is a religious avocation - and one often retreated into after a married life. The Catholic Church from the 10th to 18th centuries was enormously rich. Poorer churches, such as the Protestants of various sorts, have not seen the necessity for celibacy.

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by Im Alec has abandoned this account on May 2nd, 2010

The church as an organization may be rich but Catholic priests are by no means rich at all (unlike the many billionaire Protestant evangelist preachers). Catholic priests take vows of poverty and celibacy for the same reasons Buddhist monks do. To turn their backs on worldly concerns and focus their time and energies on spiritual matters, church work and community service. The nepotism, indulgences and other corrupt practices of the Middle Ages were addressed during the Catholic Counter-Reformation.

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by Marky Mark on May 2nd, 2010

You should read your bible, the one you have through the Catholic faith. Paul calls men to be celibate if they can. And no one forbids a priest not to marry, he chooses not to marry. Priests leave and marry all of the time.

One more thing, I know I"ve corrected you on this stance before so that the fact that you repeat that which you know is false says something about you. The bible says something about it too, do you know that that is?

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by A.C. Vila on May 2nd, 2010

@A.C. Vila- Why are bishops supposed to have families according to the scriptures? If they are, shouldn't priests as well?

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by AnonymousGirl on June 12th, 2010

Anonymous

Yes, you are right, The Holy Bible says that "a church leader should be the husband of one wife"

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by Account Closed on June 12th, 2010