Are Married Priests a Good Idea? w/ Fr. Jason Charron
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Father Explains the history behind Eastern and Western disciplines on Celibacy.
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I like that he points out that some have a vocation to the priesthood and some to celibacy, but they need not necessarily go together. I've known excellent married priests, and I've known celibate priests who, were they to marry, probably would not be nearly as effective in their ministry. Like the call to the priesthood, the call to celibacy is a vocation that comes from God alone.
But also God doesn't give someone a vocation they couldn't fulfill and also He respects the disciplines of the Church (many mystics speak about God valueing people's obedience to the Church or those higher in hierarchy).
So if He calls a man within a Roman Catholic Church, He's also going to give him a charism of celibacy. God isn't cruel and doesn't give vocations in a schizophrenic way. Vocation is to be a fullfilment, not a mountain one can't possibly climb upon.
Plenty of men are called to be husbands AND priests, but not within the Latin Church (apart from few exceptions for converts).
One of my cousins is a newly ordained married priest. He is from the Syro Malankara Church.
@@joane24
In Britain now we have quite a few married priests who are converts from the Anglican church. They do extra traing before ordination as Catholic Priests. My own parish priest is one of these, with a Catholic wife and three teenage children. There are pros and cons for both him and us. His first priority mst be to his wife and family, so school holidays are a problem…we have no daily Mass…..he is a lone priest as we have such a shortage. He has his marriage vows. It does mean he has less time for his flock. However, he is fully aware of problems in families and very inderstanding of children, and marriage difficulties, and therefore is very approachable. Wevare grateful to have him, but I think the celibate priesthood is a very good thing as they have more time for their prayer life, and ability to advise on this. I am 88, Catholic since 1958. +
@lwa313 I think it depends. Being a celibate and having a deep relationship with God can give you a great insight in how a loving relationship should look like. The spousal love of Christ teaches you what love - sacrificial love - is, and it gives you a great blueprint for human relationships as well.
You also have non-romantic relationships with other people, must learn to communicate, etc.
Some religious do spiritual direction and guidance to married people.
Also, in the case of the priests, they hear the confessions. So it's not like they're unaware of the struggles that people have.
Of course, it still depends on the person, but I don't think it's fair to dismiss someone just because they're celibate. Because human marriage is about love, and it's an image, but only a shadow image, of a marriage of soul with God, a most exclusive and and a truly spousal love of all, a true blueprint for a spousal love.
@@OrthoLou Not all priests have always been celibate. Many become priests later after a full life in the world and experience of relationships.
@@OrthoLou i am a married woman and i had been given sooooo many advices from priests. Why ? Because of their position. They litteraly spent their Time listening and giving advices, more than any man ! Threw History, people had always seek for people remote from mundane life. (Sorry for my english, i'm french)
I don't want to come off as uncharitable, but we won't die if there aren't daily masses available. Sunday Mass is so holy for a reason. If we can go to receive the Eucharist daily, that's an excellent thing, but it's not that we won't die from it. I believe that Latins should follow our Eastern brethren in allowing married men to receive Holy Orders if celibacy isn't a calling they have received. Peace in Christ.
Marriage and celibacy are both virtuous and beautiful. Paul says as much in the New Testament--we each have our calling.
Neither should demean the other, or force either on each other. God ordains both and loves both. It is a massive undertaking, and ongoing work of grace, to keep your urges saved for your spouse as well as for no one!
I was married prior to being a Catholic. If the church were to allow marriage among the clergy then I would become a priest at the soonest opportunity
Same
Go for the Eastern Rite , the married priests are as wonderful and holy as any Roman rite , a heads up though , the married priests and single priests make the same in salary so be ready to support the married priest and his family . I think of it as paying a realtor or travel agent , his job is to help me get to heaven , also a great way to support the church without fear of financial abuse..
@@RickW-HGWT i am not able to do that, I live in Guatemala, only latin rite here, the nearest byzantine rite is in US
Does God want any of you to be priests? Or is it YOUR will?
@@OrthoLou I’m not sure I can do that. I still believe, based on church history, that the east in schism. Not the west. Though many evils are happening in the Catholic Church, I can’t abandon it. Only pray the pope turns the church around before it gets worse.
Celibacy is a discipline not a doctrine, but it is founded on Christ’s own example as the Bridegroom of the Church. His whole being is for her, and the priest’s should be as well.
Thank you!!!!!
Absolutely!!!
Thank you for your priesthood, Father!
but your not christ. You're fallen the same as the rest of us
How about Paul addressing bishops about making sure their houses are in order first?
Fr. Jason Charron is a solid, faithful man. He's worth listening to.
True, doesn't make him right though.
As a Roman Rite priest, I have no idea where father gets that priests and Monk's were united in the West. It is patently wrong. Monks, until recent centuries were almost exclusively laymen with only enough clergy for their sacramental needs. Canons were communities of clergy. Diocesan "secular" clergy sprang from the canonries not the monasteries.
It's not so much United in that they actually were, but in terms of their view of discipline they weren't really separate. Monastic life, although was separated in very obvious ways from the secular world in the West, there were many a communities that lived and work with monastic communities, with sometimes towns springing forth around monasteries. Unlike the east, where due to persecution and other factors, Monastics were VERY isolated from the secular world. This means that the perception of the Priest became synonymous with Monastic life, since many a priests would work in both the monastery and the laity. Not to mention that friar orders in the West didn't exist in the east as they do. A Priest couldn't be a Dominican or a Franciscan or a Servite, but just a Priest in the Eastern Rites. These orders merged Monastic and priestly life further to the Western mind, both practically and even Theologically.
I was just going to write the same. Monks or even religious consecrated men are different from a priest.
In Eastern Orthodoxy, if priests are already married before they are ordained they are allowed to stay married. They are not permitted to marry after they are ordained. This makes perfect sense as it would be quite inappropriate for ordained priests to be going out on the town chasing women all night on a Saturday and then delivering the Divine Liturgy the next day while hung over. 🙂
Well, I think der are other ways than party all night on saturday chasing women to find a worthwhile bride. Imagine a ordained priest meets a faithul believer through is work in the church and both realize they have the same ambitions about marriage, life and family plus they feel attracted?
@@Patrick-ff6vs I hear what you're saying and I completely understand those sentiments. However, no one said that a priest's vocation is an easy one. It's a sacrifice that not many can fulfill but those are the rules that the church has put in place and they need to be adhered to. Like I said, in Eastern Orthodoxy, I dare say that the majority of priests entering the priesthood do so after having been married which I am completely fine with. Taking on the priesthood before marriage is not an easy one to do and probably quite rare. We are all human after all. But I'm sure they exist too. Also, even after having been married, if an Orthodox priest has been elevated to the level of a Bishop then he is required to abandon his wife and family in order to fulfill that role.
Shouldn't be getting drunk
Pope Benedict XVI has a great argument in “From the Depths of our Hearts.” He basically says, the Old Testament priests had to remain continent for a period of time surrounding the offering of sacrifice. Since New Testament priests offer the sacrifice of the Mass every day, they must always be continent, hence celibacy. old testament priests only had to dedicate themselves to worship at set times, so marriage and the priesthood were compatible. But priests of the New Testament have their “entire life in contact with the divine mystery.” So he says what was once a functional abstinence was transformed into an ontological abstinence. So it might be a discipline, but it’s not a mere discipline. It is not on the same level of how long you must fast before communion or which days are holy days of obligation.
Cardinal Sarah in the same book says the priest must be celibate since he marries the Church. He reflected on his time as a missionary priest, and he said that “with the instinct of faith, poor people know that a priest who has renounced marriage gives them the gift of all his spousal love.” Celibacy allows the priest to enter authentically into his vocation as spouse.“
Finally, and this is one of my favorite quotes from the book, “his [the priest’s] gift to the church is taken up and integrated into the gift of Christ the bridegroom to the church his bride. There is a true analogy between the sacrament of matrimony and the sacrament of holy orders, both of which culminate in a total gift of self. This is why the two sacraments are mutually exclusive.“
Boom. Priestly celibacy.
Boom. Ignoring Adam and Eve. God didn't make Adam, Eve, and Priest. A puritanical pope did - and not until the 1100s.
You know, I'm actually fine with priestly celibacy because I'm not a Roman Catholic and I'm glad to see your denomination crumbling with every passing year. I hope your church continues this practice because I want to see your church disappear.
On the other hand, I'm always astounded at watching how suicidal so many Catholics - particularly trads - are. Fighting for your church's continual destruction for the sake of man made traditions is amazing to watch. And I'm amazed at how vigorously you and your theologians fight to uphold your man-made traditions, even to the extent of destroying Biblical authority. (Was Paul wrong about the right of clergy to marry? I think so, if we take the traditionalist position on clergy marriage.) Also, your contradicting your own church. Your church is fine with clergy marriage under some circumstances. They're more reasonable than you, and you're contradicting them. Good grief.
Sopriests were single because of Jewish purification rights?
Eastern priest are married, bad argumentation
@@julioc.zuleta8057 I can only speak for the Orthodox, but daily Divine Liturgy doesn't seem to be the norm. Priests are required to abstain from marital relations before the Divine Liturgy however.
With priests acting “in persona Christi” are they not mystically married to the Church like Christ is?
We're all mystically married to Christ through faith.
The Church is the bride of Christ and we, the body of believers, are the Church.
Usurping CHRIST is illegitimate authority.
“Watch out no one deceives you.
For many will come in my name
claiming “I am the Christ”
and will deceive many.”
It’s not common but there are married protestant priests who converted to Catholicism, became an ordained priest and were able to stay married. There are around 120 or so married Catholic priests.
I would like you to get someone on to defend priestly celebacy
I second this motion.
Mandatory priestly celibacy for those who are not called to it is absurd and cruel. And before you give me the ol God wouldn’t call someone to the the priesthood if they didn’t meet the preconditions. Maybe. But do you think that God didn’t call or desire that any black men should become priests before they were allowed to, for example? I can think of many other examples. But if it isn’t intrinsic to the priesthood, it’s a terrible idea. It’s just more expensive. Yet I think that more quality priests will pay for themselves and we need to prioritize our priests and the sacraments before we prioritize other financial endeavours like diocesan charity work. Celibacy will always be an option for anyone who discerns it. Monasticism will also always be an option. No one wants to ban celibacy. Making marriage not an option is wicked and stupid.
@@nickkraw1 I would be careful calling those who have instituted priestly celebacy wicked. There are policies beyond the sacrament required for a reason - sufficient intelligence, training, and myriad of requirements of how they are to act and live, etc. There may be times when the church creates injust rules, but this is not a reason to violate them, it is an opportunity to pray and be obedient to Christs church. I am not aware of any policy from Rome ever banning black people from the priesthood, if you know of one, please enlighten me.
My point is, that while I myself am not completely convinced of the advantages of priestly celebacy, it seems to me that since this is a very old tradition, it stood the test of time for a reason and deserves an honest and thorough defense before we discard it and call into question the good intentions of those before us.
@@nickkraw1 I really like your reasoning. What amazes me is that many people think of a priest's family as a 'burden' to be paid for, when we live in a world where a woman can work and earn a living, apart from be able to inherit goods and so on. What's the deal? That wouldn't ever be meshed with a parish patrimony.
As a clergyman, the Church is your family. Not everyone is called, but that doesn't mean you can't be a Saint.
So what happens when the demands of the priest to the parish, conflicts with the needs of the father to his family? Which vocation comes first?
While making love to his wife gets a sick call.
He's called to provide last rights/extreme unction to some elderly parishioners but his kids and wife are sick.
It's never a conflict of interests.
@@OrthoLou As a father of four and a husband of one, why would I have to ask how a married priest does it? I have a full time career to provide for the family. Difference clearly is that a priest cannot simply clock out of his duties and his wife simply does not handle the struggles of his being absent. Such a man has two wives because he has two vocations. It's ridiculous.
@@criticaloptimist7961 Sarcasm?
@@laurants no I'm not being sarcastic. I was making the claim in principal that a married priests ministry could never be in conflict with his marriage, because God has not made a division between priesthood and marriage. If there was a conflict it would be on account of a disobedient and unsupportive wife.
Matthew 19:12
“Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”
@@OrthoLou Does it mean that St. Peter stayed in his marriage, or maybe his wife died? Besides, having married priests splits the dedication. A married person can be easily religious for the most part, but it is very hard for a priest to have a family and show marriage-like affection. It is easier for a married man to be religious and put God in his daily life without having to sacrifice his marriage and family, than for a priest to devote his life completely to God and divide himself. We shan’t think of marriage as without God, but think of marriage as possible with God. Marriage is a divided pathway. But Holy Orders isn’t meant to be a divided pathway. Jesus strongly recommends against a divided pathway in Holy Orders, as stated in Matthew 19:12.
While priestly celibacy isn’t a doctrine, it is recommended. The fact about implementing the discipline to stop priests from giving the roles to their sons, isn’t bad. Okay, the discipline was implemented a 1000 years after Christ. So what? Does that make it wrong. Do you think telling me that fact will change my mind. Implement a discipline when it becomes a problem, but then you will see that life is better off with the discipline, and you don’t have to remove the discipline once the problem goes away.
@@OrthoLou Not their roles, their wordly goods, Ironic because when the celibacy thing came in a lot of priests suddenly started to being very beneficial to their 'nephews'. That is where we get the word nepotism.
@@OrthoLou there's nothing on the tradition about Peter's wife. It seems she wasn't around when he encounters with Jesus.
and Council of Trent clearly taught celibacy is a higher vocation. And there seems to be a continence tradition in the East concerning the celebration of the Sacrifice, going back to earliest times.
Married priests are the future of the Catholic Church. Bring back married priests like we had in the times of old.
No. Not in the Roman rite.
How do you just ignore scripture
The Latin Church is the only one that demands priests be unmarried and celibate. The other 22 churches allow married priests but do not allow them to rise to the rank of Bishop.
I have no problem objectively with married men being ordained to the priesthood. But it’s delusional if people think it will solve the current crisis of men answering the call to priesthood, and other issues with the clergy. Marriage doesn’t magically grant faithfulness. (Edited for gr)
I think married priesthood could draw back the families and others we have lost do to the many scandals , it is part of the solution.
@@RickW-HGWT if someone abandons Jesus in the Eucharist, a married priest won’t make a difference to that person’s faith. It’s made of straw.
I know many good ,holy Catholic men who would have sought ordination to the priesthood if there was an option of marriage. I have no doubt that they would be excellent in that vocation. It might not be the complete answer, but it would be a great addition.
@@karenkoss5664 Perhaps. And I’m not denying their faithfulness. Were they already married though when they felt called?
@@MsMartinMuses they felt called to both, but given the forced choice opted to the vocation of marriage. If it wasn't a forced choice, they could have done both. I believe they would have done that well.
I really have to disagree with this. As a mother of five young children, we need our priest for daily Eucharist, anointing, many weekend Masses, not to mention the funerals, weddings and confessions… the pastoral work, council meetings, daily office prayers, etc, etc!
I cannot imagine if my husband was a priest! The priesthood is not a job - and it completely diminishes both roles in regards to a vocation being a calling from God. I don’t care about the early priests and bishops who were married- Jesus was not! It also puts the wife into a horrifying situation where she (and her children) would have to forgo the presence of their husband and father by threat of their holiness?! It’s insane.
When a young boy feels called to the priesthood, it is heroic when he accepts, precisely because he is giving up something for life. Priesthood and married life is for a modern culture that cannot die to self and sacrifice. It makes the sacrifice of motherhood look like a total joke. Celibacy and marriage compliment!!!!
Absolutely. Celibacy is one way of obeying Christ’s invitation: "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it" (Mt 16:24-25). And having 3 young kids, I can tell you, if I had a parish to run - either my kids or the parish would be neglected.
Thank you. I know I couldn’t do both
Cardinal Sarah
sees the relationship between married
couples and celibate priests as
complimentary: " A church that had no
experience of being loved by celibate
priests would end up no longer grasping the
nuptial meaning of all sanctity. Indeed,
priestly celibacy and marriage go hand-in-
hand. If the one is called into question, the
other fails. Priests point out to spouses the
meaning of the total gift. Spouses, by their
conjugal life, point out to priests the
meaning of their celibacy."
I couldn't agree more! 👍
1,000,000% agree. I also want to add something that no one else has mentioned so far: A really good & celibate priest is a miracle healer for abused, wounded women. I've seen what a warm-hearted, gentle priest can do for those women because they can feel safe with him (as a full-grown man who is by choice not sexually active, doesn't date, etc.) and in that way learn to trust men again. You can get that kind of healing NOWHERE else. This is quite important, considering that about 30% of all women have been sexually harassed or abused at some point in their lives.
Regardless of the faith aspect, as a wife, it sounds like a terrible idea logistically, especially while young. It is difficult enough having a spouse work the 8-5 or weekend shifts. If my husband was constantly missing time with me and the kids to help or have dinner with someone else's family I think it would put a ton of stress on the marriage. (TBH postpartum me would prob want to kill my hubby if he was getting up to do last rites but wouldn't get up to change a diaper or hold the crying baby.) And if he wasn't doing those things, he'd be failing his flock.
One could compare it to pastors but they divorce and do not have all the sacraments and duties that a priest does.
I also don't think it would solve the priest shortage problem. It's not like we currently see married men all clambering to be deacons.
Thank you! I love this response!
Yes! Finally someone notices how terrible it would be for the wife. Thank you.
When married priests were allowed in the eastern rites, there was always a monastery close to the parish. While the married priest would run the parish, celebrate the liturgy
(which was only on Sundays, was not common to have daily masses/liturgies during the week) and have a job supporting the family; the monks would help with saying confessions, and spiritual direction all the other times of the day. Both celibate monks and married priests worked together for the parishioners during the week. So the married priests still had the energy and time to be with his family. I know the demographic looks different today, there is little to no monks attached to parishes. However, that is not to say we can work towards rebuilding those type of parishes in today's society and culture.
@@francikeen facts
@@francikeen I am not advocating for married priests in the western rite. The Latin Rite has had a beautiful tradition of celibacy as a discipline for priests. I am speaking how the eastern tradition were able to foster healthy marriages & families for married priests. I was pointing out how monks had a huge role in those parishes in the east that allowed married priests to still foster their wives and families.
Western priests imitate Jesus who was a celibate priest.
💯💯💯
With all do respect, Fr. Charron is incorrect here, it is a matter of dogma, Scripture and Tradition. Here is but one of many examples:
Pope Pius XII, Sacra Virginitas, no. 32: “This doctrine of the excellence of virginity and of celibacy and of their superiority over the married state was, as we have already said, revealed by our Divine Redeemer and by the Apostle of the Gentiles; so too, it was solemnly defined as a dogma of divine faith by the holy council of Trent, and explained in the same way by all the holy Fathers and Doctors of the Church."
Council of Trent, pg. 225: "If anyone saith that the marriage state is to be preferred before the state of virginity, let him be anathema." [...] "writing to the Corinthians, [Paul] says: I would that all men were even as myself; that is, that all embrace the virtue of continence...A life of continence is to be desired by all.”
Father needs to read Cochini's book, The Apostolic Origins of Priestly Celibacy, and he will see that much of what he said is wrong. There has never been an incontinent married episcopacy.
A little perspective from a Baptist Preacher's Kid and Missionary Kid who has served as both unmarried and now as married. I am now a father of two and assistant pastor and I also teach in a Bible College. The BEAUTIFUL thing about raising your family in this capacity is the family's involvement in ministry. Read about Philip's daughters who also would proclaim the word of God. It is not a one man show. Children assist their father in the ministry. As such, since a man and a woman are one flesh, the pastor's wife has an incredible role in helping the flock. She is an example to the rest of the women in the church, and her life too is a life of sacrifice and service. A wife being a "help meet" means that she assists the pastor and must understand that his calling is also her calling. They are one flesh, the husband is the head of the home and the head of the father is Christ. Thus, in that capacity and regard, the married man understands his relationship to the church, perhaps better, than the single. As Christ loved the church and gave himself for it, the husband is to do the same for his wife.
Peter was a "presbyter" and was one to feed the flock of God. He spoke to other elders in this capacity and there was never an indicated conflict. In 1 Cor. 7, Paul did indicate that there could be "distraction" from serving the Lord. I have worked with unmarried people in the ministry, and they are a tremendous blessing.
Many Baptist churches require their pastors to be married for testimony's sake. We assume that most men do not have this calling, and we assume that most men will burn with desire. So, it is best for them to marry so that they can serve the Lord freely. Every man should serve as he has been called.
On the church side, if the church culture allows for a married priest, the church too adapts its expectations. If the church body knows its pastor is married, they then also understand that the pastor has similar needs to their own. The Pastor's job is primarily prayer and preaching, not serving tables. Pastors are just as much a part of the church as the congregation, and as such, are not married to Christ's bride, but merely provide spiritual oversight by the Holy Spirit as partakers of the same grace as the rest. We are gifts to the church and aid the church in its work: we provide the necessary "know how" so that the church can fulfill its mission in the world. (Eph. 4:12, 16). The church is equipped for its service, and the church then learns to edify itself in love. The ministry of the bishop is to assist and guide in that as a partaker of the same work.
As being a ministry child, you grow up in a fishbowl. You also have a father who needs to yield to the demands of the ministry. There will be moments of familial-ministerial "imbalance." However, that is why there is more than one pastor usually, and there are deacons. The load is to be spread between multiple people with a head pastor/shepherd over a church. As such, the pastor is able to handle many responsibilities, but cannot (and is not meant to) handle them all.
An unmarried pastor does not understand marriage. He can read books, but he does not know what it means to be married to a woman. An unmarried man can teach biblical principles about marriage, he can read books about it, he can learn from married people, but he doesn't personally understand. (I used to be an unmarried minister and missionary and used to try to teach things about marriage....it isn't received as well.
An unmarried pastor has a free slate. He can do whatever, whenever, but he has to be called to that. There is a special grace for the unmarried, and it is rare.
This might be a personal thing - I’ve talked to many married Eastern Orthodox priests and celibate Roman Rite Catholic priests and a married Eastern Rite Catholic priests - the ones that were celibate had more weight with me because they had given up marriage and the love of a woman and given up progeny and having kids for Christ. Whereas the married priests always seemed to have their cake and eat it too. They got to be married have kids and have a parish that loved them. There was not as much suffering and sacrifice. Another personal opinion, the sacrifice and suffering made by these celibate priests not only made them have more weight with me but they also (rather consistently) had more humility. I found their spiritual insight and understanding of the spiritual life deeper and I assumed this was because they had suffered and sacrificed. You can’t learn about this type of suffering and sacrifice in a book, you learn it by actually suffering and sacrificing.
If you think that there is no sacrifice because someone chose to take on both the duties of a father to children and father to other people, then you have a narrow minded view of sacrifice. You realize the man has to devote himself to both his flock and his family right? You realize he has double responsibility and double burden right? “Not as much a sacrifice” get the hell outta here with that nonsense. Also, who are you to care about how much they “resonate” with you based on their “personal sacrifice?” That is between them and God. The role of a priest is to administer the scripture, gospel, and message of the church along with providing free access to grace through the administration of the 7 sacraments. That is IT. Any other “discipline” is extra and completely unnecessary. The marriage for priests would absolutely fix the number of people in the priesthood. Married priests have to sacrifice a lot, and have unique struggles that unmarried priest don’t have to deal with. Case in point: people like you who discriminate and don’t take them seriously because of your personal view of their position. Unmarried priests are unjustly given better treatment by people in general and that is completely and utterly unjustified. The true sacrifice of a priest is not giving up sex, but choosing to live a life for the Catholic Church. Anybody can do that. In fact, when you’re confirmed, that is what you promise anyway. So yeah. And before you bring up the whole: “well the priests need to be mobile, and a family will hold them back” argument, consider this: if we had millions of more priests out there do you think there would be a need to shift priests around like there is now? In other words, why perpetuate another tradition (shifting priests around) that is the product of having to COMPENSATE for a lack of priests? If priests could stay in one place that is ideal but they can’t because of logistics. So, allowing married people to become priests and priests to become married people would increase the number of eligible people to become priests and therefore the need to move them around will be extremely diminished. It's as though the Church wants to perpetuate the problems we've had for centuries and for what? because you're scared the priests will be of lower quality? well, i argue that they will be of higher quality. they will have to go through the same education as the unmarried priests but will have insight into married life and can thus be more approachable to other married couples seeking catholic advice without coming off as "oh he's an unmarried priest he has no idea what he's talking about. he's just touting off something he read in a book from seminary." instead its more like "wow, hes married just like me, he has been in my shoes, walked my path. i ought to take this guy seriously." this will prevent people from leaving the church and taking advice from… secular sources. there can be only benefits by allowing priests to marry.
Married priests will stop the sexual abuse in the church. Not only will the women tell but the kids will too. Also if every married man became a priest and took on 1 parishioner with their family responsibilities, there would be no shortage of priests.
This isn't right and relies on the generalization of faulty assumptions. Marriage or sexual activity in general does not cure deviance-as if all we needed to do was provide them with a sort of outlet or fulfillment; a lot of modern psychologists make the same mistake &c. The most successful sexual predators are those that successfully blend in and maintain the appearance of normalcy and even moral excellence. Further, the sexual abuse crisis is not limited to the Catholic Church (although it is litigated more often) but is often statistically worse in public schools and organizations with less centralized administration.
Also, forcing every married man to become a priest isn't a good idea. a) because married priests are required to be continent for a period of time before celebrating Mass or the Divine Liturgy b) the sacrament of Hierarchies is a vocational call that not every man is called to c) lay people are called to work in the world-it would be impossible for every married Catholic man in the world to fulfill the duties of a priest (there are not physically enough altars in the world) and their duties as a member of the laity
@Kzizzles natural law is not assumption. It's God's nature. The holy family taking on ordination is not a stretch and will give Father far more souls. Let's not forget till the first century married priests were the norm. We would lose far less souls and far less spiritual rape victims if women were refereeing the rectory and frat club vibe with marriage. I also advocate for castration of ordained priests if we can't get women in this institution the natural law way. Either way the spiritual rape needs to stop now.
@@sarahkoob4490 Casteration results in an automatic excommunication; mutilating the body is contrary to God's law. I don't know what you mean by spiritual rape but it sounds like modernism to me.
I can't follow your logic. Why would being married help someone who is sexually attracted to children not continue to commit those dreadful sins with children? I have nothing against married priests as I am from one of the Eastern Catholic Churches and we have married priests. I just don't think that marriage stops pa*dophiles. After all, shamefully the majority of sexual abuse of children is perpetrated by someone well known to the child, often times within their own family.
What a stupid comment, men who would rape kids won't be there anymore because they can instead abuse their wives?
I don't think priests should marry. It will only lead to scandal. Where it is already practiced, let it be. But where it's not practiced, also let it be.
@@OrthoLou Because suddenly single women are flirting with the priest. Maybe he wants to be celibate but now women are flirting with him. Maybe he is married but women are flirting with him. I'm sure there are some women who flirt with priests, but suddenly opening this door would cause a mess. Sit and think where things could go. If you don't like what sexual scandals there are now in the church, get ready to double it or triple it if this door is opened.
If a man does not want to remain celibate, then don't become a priest in the Western rite.
As Matt points out, clerical celibacy is no mere disciplinary issue. God has spoken that celibacy is essentially part of Christianity and that those who can do it should do it. God, through St. Paul, again places celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom as superior to marriage without lowering marriage.
The West does not just disciplinarily dismiss the distinction between monks and secular clergy. The question is as to why monks are celibate at all. Just to be “monos”, or for more? The Lord’s supernatural call to celibacy is not limited to monks and bishops, that is just (I risk saying) a concession of the East, as described below. Eastern secular clergy may, and does, have celibate members - from whom choices for bishop are made.
Also, where in the NT men are married with children, and are THEN ordained - their lives do not just to on as normal. The divine call has changed their life. The Apostles apparently leave their wives’ sides (with those women also receiving that as part if their new vocation from God), and do not have any more children.
This is evidences in the early Church by married clerics and their wives vowing continence after his ordination. This today only remains as a discipline ahead of celebrating Divine Liturgy, in imitation of of the Levites - but the change happened, in my understanding from reading Aiden Nichol’s book on Holy Orders, by a bad transcription of a previous council’s canons at a later council, maybe 7th or 8th century. I would have to check that book again to confirm details.
Even today wives of married deacons must sign an agreement to let him be ordained. This is not because the husband needs
Excellent, Paul!! You said that with such eloquence and clarity! I absolutely agree with you! There is so much evidence for this argument, especially the fact that in some of the first councils, priests and deacons lost their faculties and were dismissed for being suspected of sleeping with their wives. This has always been taken very seriously by the Church. We must get back to our Traditional, Apostolic outlook.
How does a married priest handle the responsibility he owes to the Church and the responsibility he owes to his family? I'm asking because a kid needs their dad aplenty, but so does a group of parishioners their priest. I'm speaking out of what I've seen, but my priest is constantly working and has been all his life, even now in his old age. I can't imagine how much he worked for the church in his youth, and can't imagine how he hypothetically could have handled a family.
It is no different than the doctor who is on call all the time. Yet, he is able to be faithful to his patients and to his family. Historically, the real reason early why priests in the west no longer could be married and have families it’s because when a priest died, if they possessed church property, it would be inherited to his widow and children. also, there are literally millions of married Protestant pastors who are able to balance their responsibilities between their congregation and their family. As a former Catholic, I never understood why the Catholic Church didn’t allow the individual priest to make a choice between being celibate and being married. Calling it a “discipline“ doesn’t change the fact that they are not given an option.
@@BornAgainRN Yet there is a massive distinction between the work of a priest and the work of a Protestant minister, and even a doctor on call.
You cannot fully give yourself to these occupations whilst having a family to go to. A priest is called to not simply put in at a 9-5 or be available for call late at night.
As a vocation he is called to be FATHER to the people he is shepherding. That calls for a radical availability both in a temporal sense, but also a spiritual one. The gift of celibacy is what allows for him to then give himself to the people entrusted to him.
@@BornAgainRN I was a Protestant before becoming Catholic, and I"ve found that no Protestant pastor can hold a candle to a truly great Catholic priest. The level of holiness that radiates from a kind, celibate, devoted priest is unmatched. I've seen priests who were incredibly Jesus-like. I have not seen ONE pastor like that, no matter how great they were as a person.
@@TheJmlew11 AMEN!!!!!
Having a priest put 40-60 hours of work into a parish instead of essentially 0 because he was denied the opportunity is magnitudes better.
A celibate priest would have more time yes, but they shouldn't have to shoulder the entire burden. Even with Deacons they are spread thin.
I'm not sure if anyone has heard this view point. Before I state it, Im not saying I believe it, but I have heard that one of the reasons the church didn't want priests marrying and having families was because the church didn't want their money going to their families when they passed, but to the church. Like I said, I'm not sure where this view point came from or if it's even true. Just curious if anyone else has heard this or knows how someone would come to this conclusion.❤
It was a pre-reformation reform from the Middle Ages. The laity was more devout the clergy. The idea was to remove some of the earthly temptations from the priesthood by reducing exposure to women and inherited property.
That is true. As soon as priests had to be celibate a lot of them suddenly had 'nephews'. It is where we get the word nepotism from. Nepoto is Italian for nephew.
So there was a point in time priests were allowed to be married?
@@Jesusgirl00 Not sure what the exact date was but priests could marry up until the year 1000 AD or so.
Orthodoxy (with a lowercase o) is never a bad idea, and I think all Catholics should aim for it. By definition it can't possibly hurt.
By definition?
@@martijnnvermeulen7515 "orthodox" means "right teaching" and is synonymous with "traditional"
Where is said that Saint Peter was married? There's a mother in law but not any wife serving or helping. I just don't agree with everything said here.
Yes! It has always been tradition that St. Peter was a widower.
Council of Trent clearly taught celibacy is a higher vocation. And there seems to be a continence tradition in the East concerning the celebration of the Sacrifice, going back to earliest times.
Though I prize theological answers to these kinds of questions, I have a very practical one for appreciating a celibate clergy, which I think is a stark reminder of some of the truths about sexuality that are completely lost in the spirit of our age. For instance, it says that sexual activity is not a given, nor is it required to have a great life. I would think it could be a comfort to those Catholics who feel they cannot marry because of their sexual proclivities. I also think that as an example of Christ who did not marry, it strengthens the priest’s role as “in persona Christi.” Granted, good arguments can be made for married priests, as Fr Charron noted. I am personally inclined to believe the Church would possibly recruit healthier men and more men if it were open to married men, but that is just speculation.
Why can't there just be both married and unmarried priests. I really don't get why celibacy is such a big deal in the roman catholic church (except for the ordinariate and like the entire eastern catholic church...)
I have a buddy who was telling me that if the Latin Rite Church overnight allowed married priests, that the church would no longer be dying, that the pews would be overflowing again, men would be signing up en masse for the priesthood, and there would be more people taking their Catholic faith seriously.
I told him that though I am not completely against the discipline of married priests, I don't think it will have the effect that you think it will. There are other forces at play right now that are contributing to Christianity's decline.
No, because priests earn from the community fund, which means people Will have to give more money so that the priest can support not only himself but also his family. If the priest isn't able to do it from the community fund, he will have to take up a second job to support his family which creates a whole set of new problems. Additionally since he has to be obedient to his bishop his whole family will have to be obedient to the bishop which means leaving everything behind and going wherever the Bishop sends you.
That is where his parish family steps up and helps the priest and his family , I argue that if we can afford all the costs for the scandals we can afford a married priesthood that will be a beacon to bring back fallen away Catholics. As far as moving , similar to the military , it can be difficult but it is not unreasonable.
Obedience to a bishop is not unlike being in the military, therefore it's doable. Unfortunately, some dioceses receive government money, so a priest's income isn't solely from their parish necessarily.
I'm very much against allowing priests to marry.
1. It divides their loyalty and takes time and energy and attention away from their flock.
2. As we all know, the Catholic Church has very strict rules about sex outside of marriage, homosexual activity, etc. That means ALL single Catholics and ALL same-sex-attracted Catholics are called to a life of sexual abstinence. I myself got divorced before I joined the Church and so am called to live a life of abstinence (unless I find a new husband). As a former liberal and "free spirit," that was pretty hard for me. Many times, the only way I could manage was to look to my wonderful parish priest and say, "Father, if you can do it, I can do it." Letting priests marry takes away that role model status and abandons single or gay/lesbian Catholics, leaving them to "fend for themselves." I find that extremely cruel.
3. There is an "aura" of holiness, purity, and innocence about celibate priests (as well as other celibate, devout people) that I rarely see in people who engage in sexual activity. It's hard to explain, but very real.
1 corinthians 7:9. Also, 1 corinthians 7 26-28. Married priests are not the solution.
Priests are not able to devote time to a family and time to the parish. I agree wit Pope Emeritus Benedict, no to married priests
It might be worth considering that you are agreeing with theory over practical experience.
Except the Eastern churches have been doing this for over a thousand years and it hasn't caused the problems that you speak of.
As a priest, the congregation is your family.
@Anton Achondoa Is she? Can you pray, administer the Sacraments to the faithful, evangelize, adore, go on missions, live as a contemplative, and so on as much or as well as if you were single and celibate? Wouldn't you having to provide for a wife and kids not just materially but emotionally and spiritually take time and attention away from one's Priestly duties?
@@NaruIchiLuffy if the church allows married priests, the number of vocations would very likely increase, leading to a more effective division of labor. No shortage (hopefully) and plenty to carry out the sacraments.
Plus, having married priests means that all those sermons about sex, marriage, and childrearing come from a place of experience and empathy, rather than intellectual hypotheticals so far removed from the experience of actual families. So much Church teaching could potentially make much more sense when imparted by married priests.
I think that would be a horrible idea
@@OrthoLou do you really believe that a priest can be happily married, with children, and take care of the parish
@@OrthoLou haven't you heard about the preachers daughter the preacher was always busy, tending to his flock, and his daughters turned out harlots you can't serve two masters
Not to forget 1 Timothy 3:2 "It behoveth therefore a bishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, of good behaviour, chaste, given to hospitality, a teacher,"
Both marriage and the priesthood culminate in a total gift of self. That’s why the two sacraments are mutually exclusive. The priest with his gift of spousal love to the church has no room for another wife.
Thank you!
Respectfully, I wonder how one is to reconcile the mandating of monastic vows for all bishops in force in Byzantine Churches with supposed peculiar Eastern preservation of the clergy/religious distinction?
Further, secular clergy patently has existed in the West historically.
Religious life is not just about perfect continence, surely.
I know exactly who is moving up to Steubs cause I was just talking to him and his wife bout it!! You’re getting an amazing priest
I would say that it is the better path for priests to remain celibate. Not to say that it is wrong for those in the East or who come over after being Anglicans to be married. Simply that being celibate truly allows for a priest to serve as father to his community and give himself to them.
I agree totally with Father 😊
Fr. Michael Oliva, how is your parish doing?
I can imagine a sort of subordinate/assisting Priest with a lesser responsibility, which we already have Deacons so perhaps there would be no point, but I keep coming back to 'You can not serve two masters'. He doesn't go into great detail about if married eastern priest are treated differently than the celibate as far as assignment, if their load is lighter or family is considered in decisions. If Peter had a wife, she should be a Saint. It is obvious by the current state of the US that good fathers who are present and leading are desperately needed at home beside mothers. Not coming and going, canceling and letting kids down. Maybe I just don't understand how these things work
According to the Catholic Answers write up, St Peter's wife died before he had been called as an apostle. The Wikipedia page on St. Gregory of Nyssa indicates that he married a woman named Theosebia when he was a lector, but this is controversial as some think Theosebia was one of his sisters. From St. Philip the Apostle's life, he "forsook all to follow him," which begs the question of what happened to his family.
I think the question is not so much about married priests but more about the place of celibacy and/or perpetual continence. It does seem like most of the examples did their great apostolic works when they were widowers or were older and living celibate lives. The Church recognized the value of celibacy and perpetual continence in both the East and West. The West by only choosing to ordain men willing to be celibate and the East only choosing Bishops from celibate/unmarried priests.
I think if marriage was allowed in the priesthood then there probably wouldn’t have been so many scandals in the Catholic churches with alterboys and boys in general.
I agree. I think the tendency toward repression and sexual taboos has damaged a lot of priests and church members psychologically.
There are no links between pedophilia and celibacy. Priests that can't contain their urges will just find a peer.
@@michaelscofield1970
You mean an innocent child
You really think letting gay men marry women would have helped that?
bad reasoning
NO. Because they have two masters: God or wives. You can't serve both.
I don't think allowing married men to be priests is a good idea. A priest has a devotion to his parish whereas a married man's devotion is to his family. If he has two demands on his time and energy something is going to give. Either his family or his parish will suffer.
@@francikeen Assuming that Peter was the first Pope, it's not at all true to say that the clergy could never get married. Nor do we have any reason to believe that he lived a sexless life after being called as an apostle.
As Fr. Jason said, it's a discipline, not a doctrine.
Given the decline in seminary attendance in the RCC, married priests are likely to become the norm. While there are many benefits to the priests themselves, the competing demand for the priest's attention which the Father describes is highly detrimental to the laity. Also, I truly hope that if this does become the norm, that the sermons do not become the banal "This is just like Billy's football game" type which typifies Protestant pastors.
Yeah exactly... I'm imagining endless sermons on marriage too...
@@thatsfunny2051 Sincerely, if you die and you awake to a "Wives be shopping" sermon, you know where you landed for eternity.
@@Charlotte_Martel truly
According to the Doctrine of the Church, Jesus gave Peter the responsibility for the church. Peter was married. Priests should be married and have the support of a Godly wife. Monks are a different breed and are called to live a life of solitude. There's a big difference. Both should be permitted and supported. If this was the case, following Peter's example, which Christ was clearly ok with, I believe more men would be inclined to become a priest.
I never seek confession of a married priest.
I have heard that there is a significant percentage of Eastern Catholics who will not go to the Sacrament of Penance to a married priest, because they feel almost as if they are not a priest. They see them at school plays and football games, they seem so normal, not raised above in station as a priest who acts in "Persona Christi" should be.
This is the opposite end of the spectrum of wrong.
@Kzizzles, I agree that it is the wrong outlook, married priests are still validly ordained priests with the faculties to forgive sins. I can understand when people feel that they would rather go to a celibate priest instead, though. This speaks of nothing but how they feel, the sacrament is valid regardless.
Marriage is a holy mystery, it'd be bizarre to deny it to the priesthood as a matter of course; almost as bizarre as denying them baptism. 😂
Cardinal Sarah sees the relationship between married couples and celibate priests as complimentary: " A church that has no experience of being loved by celibate priests would end up no longer grasping the nuptial meaning of all sanctity. Indeed, priestly celibacy and marriage go hand-in-hand. If the one is called into question, the other fails. Priests point out to spouses the meaning of the total gift. Spouses, by their conjugal life, point out to priests the meaning of their celibacy."
It’s theological; not merely disciplinary or practical.
Amen, @ David Lopez!!!!!
No, they aren’t a good idea in the Latin rite.
@@francikeen yeah, and latin rite lost their land to protestant heretics and secularism, plus bad liturgy since 1960
INQUISITION 1184 until 1820 ~ Heretics had their land Robbed
(not inherited by spouses or children) by Catholics.
CONSEQUENCES
I feel like the debate centered around celibate clergy in the west is a bit off. Like the reasons I’ll hear from most proponents is “it’ll increase vocations and somehow prevent or lessen abuse.” Those who are opposed sort of forget that the eastern Church and the history of married priests exists. I feel like the west just needs to stick to what it’s doing because it’s a great tradition, though spreading of the eastern rite throughout the world is also a good objective.
I get the symbolism of the celibate priest being the groom for the Church as the bride but I still think priests should be allowed to marry but adopt the Eastern Orthodox rule of you have to be married before ordination. If there are any changes needed to be made to the priesthood, it’s allowing them to marry, not allowing women into the clergy! As someone who suffers from chronic loneliness I don’t wish this on anyone! I think this will help bring more much needed good men into the clergy!
I can't wait to become a nun, seriously
It says that if you are married, your responsibility is to your wife and family. If not then to G-D.
Yes, married priests are a good idea. Part of the reason that I'm Anglican.
I have receive communion from a married man who consecrated the host
I have no problems with an Anglican ordinary priest, being married, saying a Roman Catholic mass, so I have no problems with an eastern married priest, saying a Roman Catholic mass. So why should we limit celibacy to the Roman rite
Muddled thinking. An Anglican cannot say Mass in a Catholic Church unless he becomes a catholic priest!
@@wendyfield7708 ORDAINAATE
Awesome talk, very insightful, thanks 🙏
Celibacy is not a biblical requirement for serving the Lord or the Church. Catholic priests were allowed to marry for hundreds of years before the Vatican changed the rule on a whim. And on a whim, the rule can be undone.
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With all due respect to traditions that allow married priests and pastors, here is my opinion: from purely practical view, it's a conflict of interest. Which one to prioritize, the flock, or the family? Also, domestic problems can easily spill over, scandalizing the flock.
Totally agree
NO.
I would sign up to be a priest immediately if I could also be married.
Ummmm no
I felt this way before Lent. Now I understand that I was withholding a part of my being from God. I ask you as a man who understands the struggle, is the primary reason you want to marry to fulfill sexual desire?
Me too. You are not alone.
If God is calling you to celibacy priesthood, He Will give you enough graces to overcome the desire of the flesh, start your Daily Rosary & you Will feel changes in your life..sacrifice for the Lord, who Said to follow God’s Will is easy? But its doable when connected to Him❤️🔥
@@dorcas4035 if you think celibacy is so great then why don't you do it?
It works in Eastern Church it could work in Latin Rite too
Priests should be allowed to marry, the problem in the clergy with pedophilia turned me away from the church, it’s just disgusting
If Lbgt blessings is permitted I don't see why priests are prohibited to married
I believe secular priests should be free to marry. Maintaining celibacy is challenging without the support of an ascetic community, and we've seen the problems that can arise otherwise.
Perhaps it could be a good idea to allow married men to become priests in the Roman Rite in some instances if certain conditions are met. For example,
if the couple has had Children that have all moved out and started their own lives,
the couple is past the procreation part of their lives,
the couple has enough in their retirement savings to sustain themselves to the end of earthly life,
has proven himself to be a faithful son of the church,
can he and his wife commit to living their lives in simplicity,
and obedience to their Bishop (for example if they were to be moved to a different dioceses).
There is no denying that there is a shortage of priests. This may not necessarily be a solution to the problem but it may remedy the problem a little.
Whether or not he and his wife would agree to this idea, or if he would even feel called to the priesthood and his wife be accord with him if he did feel called if it were permitted, it seems someone like Scott Hahn could meet these conditions and be a great priest. How many would object to Scott Hahn, or a married man like him, becoming a priest?
@@francikeen And all the regions lost to Protestantism were Catholic, including Latin America which is being lost today.
@@francikeen No. They should be Catholic. Here is a sentence from the Pope Pius X's encyclical PASCENDI DOMINICI GREGIS: "The first step in this direction was taken by Protestantism; the second is made by Modernism; the next will plunge headlong into atheism." The whole encyclical is worth reading , but for the sake of this conversation it is worth pointing out that as Latin America turns more and more Protestant, 5 countries in that region already have governments that could essentially be referred to as Communistic Atheist, namely Nicaragua, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and Brazil.
So what is worse, an Islamic Theocracy or Communistic Atheism.
Don't forget, France, what was referred to as The Oldest Daughter of the Church, where priest for centuries did not marry, was the first country to fall to the heresy of Modernism. And it was from French philosophers that Karl Marx got his ideas for Atheistic Communism.
P.S. Lou's comment.
@@OrthoLou 👍
considering that the priesthood is at an all time low in terms of spiritual fuel, perhaps at this point in time is good to tap into married men to broaden the pool of potential candidates.
I don’t know because I’ve heard Roman Catholic priests say that they desire to offer the gift of celibacy to God. I think just not many Catholics in the US don’t even know that you can get married as a priest in eastern rites.
I would decline quickly and emphatically. Parishes are deficient in boys as altar servers not because the priest is without a wife.
@@joecardone4887 the problem is that the new mass no longer attracts anyone to the priesthood. it's run out of the fuel. it's time to return to Latin Mass.
From this interview I get the feeling that the proposition is that married priests is a good idea. I don't think so, and we have 2023 years of church tradition to prove that celibacy is the correct way. It's true that some of the apostles were married, but common sense dictates that a priest should give all of his time and efforts to the service of the church of Jesus Christ. A married priest by definition is unable to do that because he has responsibilities as a father and husband. Also, a married priest would be subject to the risks of a failed marriage among other things. Think about the effect that this would have on the reputation of the church and on the faith of the flock. Just imagine the scandals, rumors and gossip. God in his holy wisdom has guided the church to the benefits of celibacy and who are we to change that. I'm by no means suggesting that the priest in this interview isn't a great and holy priest. On the contrary I wish and pray that he is, but celibacy I understand is what God prefers for his church.
Pope cancelled marriages of Clerics in 1075.
Celibacy became Law in 1123.
Paul is quite specific that church leaders should be married, have children able to manage their family well, be in good standing in the community and more. Not be new converts. End of. Imo.
there is special vocation to be a Priest's wife. I have also heard that many times that wife of a candidate to ordination has the final say whether her husband will be ordained or not
These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed by Jesus from among men, the first fruits to God and to the Lamb.
Revelation:14:4
In Timothy it explains what a pastor should be. Should check it out. God’s word
Celibacy is a discipline not a doctrine, but it is founded on Christ’s own example AND in the examples of the APOSTOLES. Some were married but tradition teach us they stop living as husband and wives after their priesthood
I think a Priest who is Married can give better example of what is to have a family and to be the leader. A married man can give better advice to a young man that wants to get married because he is married and has had highs and lows!!
If God calls you to devout your life to Him, as does with priests and nuns, you have to be 100% commited to the task, be true to that call, and I think you wouldn't be able to do so if you are married.
They have been molesting children for centuries
The question should be, is the Catholic church a good idea.
Paul says that both Deacons and Bishops should be married(of course this is not the case for Apostles, evangelists, etc.). You could argue that this was merely a guideline... But I would be wary of treating God's scripture as "Merely guidelines".
Celibacy is not just a discipline but also a sacrifice. The disciples left everything behind and followed Jesus and were crucified upside down as Peter. If one cant sacrifice himself, how he can sacrifice for God's people.
8Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
1 Corinthians 8-9
St.Paul also states that it's better for people not to marry, though places no restriction on. But he confirms the state of perfection requires celibacy as a outward sign of an inner transformation.
St. Paul points out the obvious: that a married person's must be divided between his family's needs and those pertaining directly to God'.
"Because you are given a vocation as a Priest, doesn't mean you have a vocation to Celibacy" Hmm, wisdom
The Roman rite should allow married men to become priests, in the same fashion as the Eastern rite.
Some of your viewers have already pointed this out, but Eastern Rite priests can be married. So, issue closed. No discussion here.
I always wish these clips lasted just a tad longer!
Desire of the flesh Will stray Many! So people have a list of what they Can sacrife for God? What if God demand? Then my free Will comes in 🤷🏻♂️God cant ask something that One Cant manage, He Will shower special graces to that being.. with God all is possible🙏❤️🔥✝️
The priesthood requires total conformity to Christ the High Priest. A huge part of that is celibate chastity, a gift and sacrifice, which is taken up into Christ’s own gift of celibacy to His Bride the Church, for Whom He gave ALL His spousal love on the Cross. Priests are called to imitate this total gift of self.
This requirement can and should be dropped. It lessens the numbers, isn’t dogmatically or doctrinally required, and would introduce an additional realm of knowledge that is marriage and family life into what can often be an extremely theoretical and abstractly understood and practiced vocation. You are not ‘more’ by being celibate.
It also would lessen the ratio of over representation of homosexuals and perhaps pedophiles (sadly) who are in the vocation as an acceptable alternative to marriage in the church.
To those saying married priests would have less time… with more priests they could share the load!
and once a single man becomes a priest in the eastern rite and is ordained he can’t then go and marry thereafter? Can the wives of these priests then go and be nuns?
Priests should be celibate period. It's not fair for the church nor for the wife and children if they were to have family.
Just my opinion, but the availability arguments people use against married priests don’t really hold too much water with me. If you’ve ever served in the military you’d know what I’m talking about, deployments, exercises, fields… families make due and God provides. It’s a lifestyle and a calling. Just my thoughts
Something that Fr. neglected to mention is that married priests are expected to be continent prior to celebrating the Divine liturgy (dictated by a few councils). In the West, this means that a priest who celebrates Mass as he is obligated to would have to be celibate 364 days out of the year-Good Friday being the only day in the Roman rite that Mass is not celebrated.
Eusebius of Caesarea recounts that St. Paul was a widow not lifelong celibate.