[huckfillary]

I'm a lifelong Catholic, but I believe it is time for the Church to allow married men to become priests and priests to become married. The Church has two problems which this would help alleviate. There is a priest shortage and there are too many gay (pedophilic or not) priests. I don't really know how the whole celibacy thing got started. While Christ was celibate, there is no evidence that that Apostles were, and I believe the Church at one time allowed priests to be married. Nevertheless, the Church should admit that there is little or no theological or moral justification for not allowing priests to be married and drop the whole thing. I think it would, in the short and long runs, revitalize the Church and attract many, many highly qualified and inspired married men into the priesthood. It would also attract thousands of single men who would like to become priests but who now cannot because they also someday want to be married with children. Is that so wrong?

[Tax-chick]

Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches ordain married men, but do not allow priests to get married. Matrimony has to come first. This is the case with permanent deacons in the Roman Catholic Church, as well as the converts from Anglican orders: they can be married at the time of ordination, but not marry (or remarry) afterward.

Within this sacramental structure, there are spiritual and practical factors on either side of the question of ordaining married men. As the experience of the Anglican churches (including the Episcopal Church USA) has shown, in cultures where marriage doesn’t mean anything, clergy relationships range from exemplary through extremely messy to catastrophically scandalous.

[Bulwyf]

Peter was married too, as were many of God’s apostles.

[pbear8]

If you are close friends with priests you quickly realize that the 24/7 nature of their vocation leaves no room for a vocation to marriage as well. The happiest, holiest priests I know well understand this and willingly make the sacrifice for God and for the rest of us.

[Catsrus]

Since the Catholics believe that Peter was the first pope - scriptures teach us that Peter WAS married. His mother-in-law is referenced in Matthew 8:14, 15:

Jesus Heals at Peter’s House
14And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever. 15And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered to them. 16When the even was come, they brought to him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

[Burkean]

I haven’t read anything in the Bible indicating that Jesus or the apostles were celibate or not. Perhaps tradition has favored that they were celibate, but I believe that developed years after their earthly lives v

[Mrs. Don-o]

You are correct when you say there is no inherent theological reason why a married man cannot become a priest. The vocation of this Fr. Allen as married man and priest certainly illustrates that.

The big creative surge in the past 30 or so years is to have married deacons. In the Catholic Church, deacons are also clergy: they receive Holy Orders just as priests doe.) The US Catholic Church now has more married deacons (15,000) than it has priests in religious orders like the Franciscans and Jesuits (14,000.)

So you could say we've got lots of marries clergy, just not married priests.

Our parish has 2 priests and 3 deacons. I love those guys. And their wives!

[A.A. Cunningham]

There is a priest shortage

There's also a shortage of Priests in all 21 Churches in the Eastern Rites which already ordain as a norm, married men. Marriage isn't the panacea many think it would be. Strike one.

there are too many gay (pedophilic or not) priests.

Better check out the behavior of all these protestants for starters and see that perverts masquerading as clerics aren't unique to Catholicism or the discipline of celibacy. Strike two.

I don't really know how the whole celibacy thing got started.

Read the following for starters:

Then take a long look at Matthew 19:11-12, 27-30; Luke 18:28-30 and 1 Corinthians 7:32-35.

there is no evidence that that(sic) Apostles were

Except that Scripture makes no mention of any of the 12 being married except Peter, at one time. His wife is not mentioned in Scripture. Strike three.

I believe the Church at one time allowed priests to be married.

As mentioned earlier the Church still allows married men to be ordained as a norm in the Eastern Rites. While ordaining married men was once allowed in the Latin Rite, the couple had to agree, prior to ordination, to adopt the discipline of lex continentiae; total continence, after ordination. No agreement, no ordination. The Church has never allowed priests to lawfully contract marriage after ordination.

the Church should admit that there is little or no theological or moral justification for not allowing priests to be married and drop the whole thing.

You possess a very poor grasp of Scripture and the Priesthood.

I think it would, in the short and long runs, revitalize the Church and attract many, many highly qualified and inspired married men into the priesthood.

Contradicted by the current shortage of Priests in the Eastern Rites. How many married men; particularly with children, do you know that are willing to embrace a lifelong vocation that pays about $1000/month?

It would also attract thousands of single men who would like to become priests but who now cannot because they also someday want to be married with children.

A specious at best argument which again is indicative of you lack of knowledge about the Priesthood.

Is that so wrong?

Quite.

[awin]

I think you need to find a new religion if you really feel that way.