[FormerLib]

A married priest would throw the vow of poverty out the window and with women and children around...

So how is it handled for the wives and children of the married priests (see the reference to converts and Unitates above) already in the Roman Catholic Church? Why is it that this method could not be expanded?

[sinkspur]

So how is it handled for the wives and children of the married priests (see the reference to converts and Unitates above) already in the Roman Catholic Church? Why is it that this method could not be expanded?

Gentlemen, diocesan priests (those who report to a specific bishop in a geographical area) do NOT take vows of poverty. That's why they're allowed to own their own cars, private property, and keep their own bank accounts.

Married Anglican and Lutheran converts have been very well accepted in the Church. And, yes, that experience could be expanded, should those in authority ever desire to do so.

[Conservative til I die]

So how is it handled for the wives and children of the married priests (see the reference to converts and Unitates above) already in the Roman Catholic Church? Why is it that this method could not be expanded

It theoretically *could* be expanded, but one of the real reasons we won't renounce celibacy in the Western Church is because it will be for the wrong reasons and will have the wrong effect. It will open the floodgates and will be another step towards liberalizing the Church. We've seen the damage done in just the last 40 years when liberalism crept into the Church.

[A CA Guy]

Hello, I'm sure the church has to consider and figure on these expenses when they take on these new priests.

Maybe the spouse has to sign something that says the church is NOT responsible for their support or child support.

I don't see this risk expanding because some court would IMO rule out any signed prior agreements over the interests of providing for the children.
Courts like to do that.