Lots of reasons, Vatican II contributed. Basically it was a loss of faith in the Church. I never meant to imply that clerical celibacy was the only reason we left, I'm sorry if you got that impression.
The idea that only a married man with kids can give Christian advice is the exact type of thinking that leads women to believe that only a woman can act as a therepist to women, blacks to believe that only a black can represent blacks in Congress, etc.
You're misunderstanding what I said. Clearly anyone that is well grounded in the faith can give Christian advice. But how can some one that has never been married help me apply the Bible to marital problems? They can quote it and interpret it all they want but unless they're in a position to give practicle advice, relate their experiences and what did and did not work for them the advice is all theory. It's not at all like only women can provide therapy for women or blacks represent blacks, those things are physiological not experiental. It's more like how only cops really understand cops, only people that have served in the military understand what it means to be a soldier. Someone that has never been married cannot understand marriage.
It is repugnant to the idea that we are all formed in the image of God.
Absolutely. The idea that color and race make us so different we can't understand each other is foolish. But we must experience makes all of us different from each and advice must come from common ground. No one that has not had the experience of something can offer up good advice on how other can better survive that same thing. I cannot tell people how to deal with the problems that arise from limb paralysis because I've never dealt with it, I can offer general support and a friendly ear, but I can't say "do this" because I don't know anything about it. Someone that has never had to reopen the lines of communication with a spouse cannot instruct on how to reopen lines of communication with a spouse, they have no praticle experience and anything they say on the subject is just something they've been told or read.
One must also remember that during the time period my family was growing away from the Church was a time when the Church frowned upon external counciling. At that time married Catholic with issues at home were instructed to NOT seek outside marriage councilors, but to only discuss these things with their priest. Your priest was supposed to be the entire support network, if you sought assistance from others you were being a bad Catholic, and unfortunately priests just can't give good advice on some stuff. Nobody is good at everything, and the severely limited experiences of priests severely limit the things they are good at.
Looking back, I see I read you to fast, so the fault is mine.
You're misunderstanding what I said. Clearly anyone that is well grounded in the faith can give Christian advice. But how can some one that has never been married help me apply the Bible to marital problems? They can quote it and interpret it all they want but unless they're in a position to give practicle advice, relate their experiences and what did and did not work for them the advice is all theory. It's not at all like only women can provide therapy for women or blacks represent blacks, those things are physiological not experiental. It's more like how only cops really understand cops, only people that have served in the military understand what it means to be a soldier. Someone that has never been married cannot understand marriage.
I would think that some blacks and women would call their existence "experiential" and consider the idea of taking advice from a "non" person useless. I do see what you are saying, and there is certainly a difference between empathy and sympathy. But I don't see where all advice, or all good advice needs to come from one with experience. Certainly it is often beneficial to be that way, so I will leave it at that.
SD
The problem with your theory is that most people do not understand cops as other cops do because they are not familiar with them. However, take for example someone who works closely with police, and yet is not a policeman- say someone who trains them. Are you saying that such a person could not have great insight into what it is to be a cop- better than even many who actually are cops?
But my real point is that I get great advice on family and marital matters from my two pastors -- both of whom are FSSP priests and neither of whom has ever been married. What they have been is members of large families and brothers to siblings who are married. No disrespect to you or your mother, but I disagree that it takes a married person to counsel another married person.
Pax.