[ken5050]

FYI, there was one interesting study a few years ago based upon lengthy interviews with a dozen married Catholic priests.....there is a little known dispensatin that allows married Episcopal priests, who become Catholic, to stay married and function as priests......I always thought that this was a curious loophole in Chirch doctrine..anyway, the married priests, and all had kids, seemed very happy, content in their vocation, and were much loved by their parishoners. That was the jist of the survey

[kassie]

The church we attended in Texas had started out Episcopal and the priest converted and several of his "flock". He was by far the most faithful to the Church we've ever had.

My sister-in-law, who is protestant, had just found a church and was very happy with it until their pastor decided he had to move back to CA to make his wife happy. Their little church had to advertise for a new minister and in the mean time was lead by elders in their church. They were young and in-experienced. Finally they all just drifted into other little churches. Now her new church just lost their minister. And she is going through it all over again. His wife was jealous of all the time he spent away from home, because he also had a 40 hour a week job, due to the fact the little church can't afford to pay him much.

[TN Republican]

Back before every bishop had to report to the pope in Rome, a priest was allowed to be married. After Gregory VII, as part of a general effort to consolidate and control the Catholic franchise, the clergy was informed that they were to give up their wives. If you didn't agree, your wife was abducted and sold into slavery.

[pbear8]

there is a little known dispensatin that allows married Episcopal priests, who become Catholic, to stay married

My understanding is that this depensation is available to this generation only. The Church does not want to have men skirting the discipline of the Church by becoming Epsc. and then changing to RC.

[tortoise]

there is a little known dispensatin that allows married Episcopal priests, who become Catholic, to stay married and function as priests

I've also been told by a Catholic priest that marriage is allowed in certain parts of the world where the culture is such that the priest could not effectively function in the society unless he was married. I recall certain parts of Africa being mentioned by name.

It therefore seems that celibacy of the priesthood is "ernestly recommended" rather than being an unbendable doctrine. I actually think the church would benefit if the priests could be married, allowing them to interface more effectively with their constituents. It certainly seems to have helped the protestants.

[B-Chan]

I'm doubtful about the idea of allowing unmarried priests to marry. That being said, our parish priest (indeed, our entire parish!) is ex-Episcopalian, and he's still married. You'd have to look far and wide to find a priest more orthodox and obedient to the Magisterium than our Father H! No altar girls, lady Eucharistic ministers, clown Masses, etc. at our church -- just the grandeur of the Anglican Usage of the Roman Rite.