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I think that would solve a lot of problems and it would increase the number of participants in the Church.
Why shouldn't they?
The original reason Catholic priests became celibate in the first place is because the wife of some Pope way back in history poisoned him and took the Vatican to war, which they eventually lost – Hence we now have single priests and women have almost no say in how the Catholic religion is run.
I personally believe that they should be allowed to marry, along with the Nuns, but the spouses should have no say in how the religion is run.
Just my not-so-humble opinion. B)
Up to the religion's rules to establish this. Since I'm not a Catholic, it becomes sort of hard to tell them how to run their religion.
But I don't see what benefit is derived from not permitting them to do so. I'm pretty sure the reason it was done has to do with property rights in the Middle Ages (inheritance by the families instead of the church). Since property rights have changed such that there could be some contractual or corporate obligation to leave church property as owned by the church rather than passing by default to the family, this is an obsolete problem.
In light of all the recent scandals surrounding the Catholic Church, I don't think that will end or solve the many years of institutionalized pederasty that has dominated the church. But perhaps, the ability to marry, and raise a family will attract a greater number of people who aren't willing to abuse their power as well as the trust of followers to the clergy.
I would be okay if the Church allowed priests to marry.
If they would stop adehering to their man made rules that have enveloped the institution of what is supposed to be a church, they would discover that there is absolutley nothing unbiblical about them getting married. No where in scripture does it forbid a church Priest/Pastor/leader etc, to marry.
Quite frankly if catholic priests were allowed to marry the rates of sexually abused chidern in the world would probably be 60% lower.
Probably not. There's not much evidence that being married induces better behavior from people who are misbehaving in such an egregious manner as to abuse children. I think it also fundamentally overlooks the problem as somehow related to their sexuality (assumes that they are homosexuals for example). It's a problem of power and abuse of authority, not heterosexual norms.
What you might get over time is a better group of priests through turnover. But this also assumes that the church is interested in kicking out the ones who are causing problems (and violating the law) instead of protecting them.
yeah, i really think that people, especialy people of power, need to start taking responsibility for what they, or thier kind, have done, especially when it comes to abuse. we're seeing way too much of that nowadays.
yes, but if they are allowed t marry, wouldnt it be more likely for them to marry some one who is also a priest/nun? how could, in that circumstance, one NOT have any say in how thier rieligon is run? plus, just because history has ONE example of bad behavior from a spouse, does it really mean that the other spouses are just as bad? why do people now have to be held responsible for that of the past?
I don't know but my priest says he regrets not having his family (parents and siblings) living in his parish or nearby but that he would never have the time to see to all his duties as a priest as well as be a husband/father/grandfather etc.
I think maybe its something to do with the title Father literally meaning just that, to an entire congregation.
I will vote yes, Priests ordained in Eastern Catholic and Orthodox churches are allowed to marry and start a family like any other person. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that priests and other church servants should refrain from getting married.
Why? Maybe God doesn't exist.
I never understood that either.
I don't think that God and marriage have anything to do with each other, personally.
What people do is up to them. Whether they be priests or otherwise, they should be able to get married.
The tradition of celibacy is loosely based on some of the apostle Paul's writings where he in referring to his own person claims that he would rather remain single and never touch a woman so that he can better focus his attentions on God and the needs of the fledgling churches he helped found throughout the middle east and Europe. The idea of celibacy in the church has come under fire multiple times but this time the church has no social, or biblical, way to fight it their primary arguments against it are historical, and economic. the catholic church is a very wealthy organization and could stand to loose millions in necessary wage in creases for married priests, bishops, and cardinals. And without a solid income (gifts/tithes from parishioners) they wont want to take that risk.
As to a priest not having time for a family that is only a choice he has to make for himself. In any given parish (district as outlined by the church) there are multiple priests that could work together so that all had some spare time and the amount of spare time would be determined by how well they worked together. But if any one so chose he could spend his days as they would have in the days of yore and schedule 10 hours a day of meditation 2 of quiet contemplation and 2 of study and preparation of the next day's mass lessons, 2 hours of confessions, 3 hours at meals, and the rest in restful sleep. it would neither hurt the church nor would it have a helpful affect on the church.