[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.

[ken5050]

Many years ago, I was at a dinner party where Richard Cardinal Cushing, was also in attendance. It was a family gathering....the girl I was seeing was a distant cousin of the Cardinal's...he was a charming man, and a marvelous raconteur..he had many of us listening to him in utter fascination for several hours...at the time, there had been a similar call in the media to allow RC priests to marry, and one of the guests asked the Cardinal what he thought of the idea.....He took a sip of brandy, looked up, with a twinkle in his eye, and told us....."but what will I do when they want to get divorced?"....I always thought it was the most marvelous answer..