[Kolokotronis]

This is a problem the Roman Church will of course have to work out on its own. That said, as an Orthodox Christian I must say that having had a married priesthood for the past 2000 years doesn't seem to have hurt us any. In Orthodoxy we have either a married priesthood or celibate priest monks. In our parish we have had over the past 15 years or so a couple of priest monks. They are definitely different from the married priests, better in some ways, not as good in others. My spiritual father is a priest monk and for me that's better. For others, a married priest would be preferable. Married priests certainly know more about what people living "in the world" and married are going through than celibates, and their wives are often a big help in a parish, even if their kids can be trouble (there is a Greek saying, " Son of the priest, grandson of the devil."). On the other hand parish work is tough on families and marriages and we do occasionally have the spectacle of a divorced priest. I did note in the article that the statement said, "Priesthood is a gift, celibacy is a gift: they are not the same gift,". That certainly would be the experience of Orthodoxy, but no one should think for a moment that a married priesthood will somehow or other solve the problems the Roman Church faces in this world.

[sinkspur]

I agree with you completely. The experience with married Anglican converts who have been ordained to the Catholic priesthood has been a largely positive one. They work just as hard as the celibates and are valued by their parishioners as much as the celibates. In fact, parishioners don't care one way or the other.

A married Catholic priesthood would simply allow a wider pool of candidates for consideration. Those men who are called to celibacy would remain celibate and bishops would be chosen only from the celibates.

[Dominick]

On the other hand parish work is tough on families and marriages and we do occasionally have the spectacle of a divorced priest.

Excessively hard, so hard I would think a man could not carry on a Marriage and keep up with workload of the current Priesthood. I can barely keep up with being GK for the Knights, A job, and my Marriage.

A man would have to be married BEFORE ordination, and then the usual rules, as they apply to deacons today, would still apply, i.e. a widowed deacon may not remarry. If the same model is used, only the celibate may be Bishops.

I did note in the article that the statement said, "Priesthood is a gift, celibacy is a gift: they are not the same gift,". That certainly would be the experience of Orthodoxy, but no one should think for a moment that a married priesthood will somehow or other solve the problems the Roman Church faces in this world.

I think it would complicate matters, and I wonder if we need that in the Church. I would rather have fewer celibate priests than a plethora of Married Priests. There is also the issue of supporting a man and his wife and children. The children also have the issue about being the "son of a preacher-man", need I say more?

[Mershon]

Kol, correct me if I am wrong, but aren't the Orthodox experiencing this same "shortage of priests" as the Roman Church is?

And if so, then this proves that the thesis "allowing priests to marry would solve the vocations crisis" to be untrue, would it not?

I believe I have read several articles stating that the Orthodox Church is lacking priests also. So are Protestant denominations as a matter of fact.

The vocations crisis in the Roman Church is tied to a lack of fidelity; simple as that. God always gives His people the results of their actions. He always allows them to suffer do to their stupidity (in the Catholic Church, it begain in the 1960s, and in some quarters, continues until this day.)

[Salvation]

You have a point about the married priesthood in the Eastern rite. However, if a priest wants to be considered for a bishop, doesn't he have to remain celebate? Why have married priests then?

[Palladin]

Of course this is the reasonable and compassionate solution.

No one ever said they were either reasonable or compassionate at the Vatican.