[Teófilo]

Folks,

On a personal note: I am not a Catholic deacon nor am in any program to become one. Even if I were later to consider it, I would not consider the priesthood right away if the Church were to allow married men to become priests. The diaconate and the priesthood are two different and distinct vocations and one should not be confused with the other.

My point is, I have no personal, emotional investment on this issue. Now, have at it!

In Christ, Theo

[WhiteGuy]

Is it time to ordain married men to the Catholic priesthood?

This nice Catholic boy votes "Yes"

[cripplecreek]

As someone who is/was methodist, I think it's wise to avoid creeping liberalism of the church. If you allow the liberalism you will lose your church.

[ClearCase_guy]

Let's see ... 1 billion Catholics in the world.
65 million Catholics in the US.

The Church isn't going to change because Liberal US Catholics think that married Catholic priests would be a kewl idea.

[B Knotts]

People that supposedly know say it's not going to happen. There may be "discussion," but that's it.

I hope they're right, because I think it would be a mistake.

The priest, in persona Christi, already has a spouse, holy Church. To try to marry another would be confusing and difficult.

Yes, there are examples of married priests today who are able to manage, but I think these are probably exceptional individuals, from which we should not try to draw a general rule.

We have a married man in our parish who was considering a permanent diaconate. He recently came to the conclusion that at this point in his life, he just cannot proceed; he has too many demands as it is, as a husband and father.

If we want more priests, we need to provide holy and orthodox seminaries, with moral and financial support from the families, parishes and other organizations. Too often, good men are dissuaded from considering the priesthood by heterodox formation directors and hypersexualized societal attitudes.

[cyborg]

No married priests. No never.

[Little Ray]

Actually, it ought to say "again." Until the mid-late 13th century Catholic priests could marry or be married. The issue of celibacy came, not because of religious issues, but because of inheritance laws. The Church of Rome owned enormous properties in Europe, and married priests, bishops, etc., wanted their children confirmed in possession of them, while the Church didn't want to lose control. No legitimate children - no inheritance issues; thus the rule of celibacy.

[Dominick]

I am always amused by those who feel that celibacy is an article of faith, and I am not sold it is the only way to save the Church. I think that we need changes in the Church, but those would include the nuts and bolts of running a Parish under the Bishop and Pastor. One thing I would change is the way we run Catholic Schools and Churches out of one basket of money.

The Diaconate and Priesthood have done much better than monastic and religious orders. I think the crisis of vocations is more serious when we consider that Nuns and Brothers who once served the communities are almost gone.

[narses]

No.

[Mershon]

This is another path on the slippery slope. The modernists have made their bed and destroyed the priesthood by setting bad examples and gaining no adherents. The laity, for the most part in the U.S. have aided and abetted this.

The FSSP and the ICKSP and the orthodox dioceses have no problems ordaining married men. There are valid theological and spiritual reasons that override doing this in today's climate. Celibacy is a special and unique witness.

If we have married priests, we will have divorced priests. Why do we need more scandals?

Finally, on the practical level, most parishes do not tithe enough to support a married priest with 9 or 12 or 6 children, and send them to college. And a priest who is opent to life presumably, does not need his wife going off to work. It is something that would create tensions at home and while ministering to the congregations. A priest has a vocation. A married man has a vocation. A priest's vocation doesn't end at 5 p.m. Neither does a married man's.

The cure is Tradition and fostering pious, prayerful young men and getting rid of altar girls. This is a "band-aid" cure. Orthodox priests I know have one or two children, and the Orthodox are NOT against contraception, so this comparison does not hold.

[MadIvan]

I would be in favour of it with a proviso - this allowance of married men into the Church, should be accompanied by crushing the "gay mafia" in many seminaries.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Another proviso - I do believe that the upper echelons of the Church should be comprised of celibate men: it would be very peculiar to have a "First Lady" for the Pope.

Regards, Ivan

[dfwgator]

This Catholic not only says "No," but "Heck No."

A Priest is married to the Church. It would not be fair to the wife or to the Church if he is forced to serve both.

[Salvation]

**Is it time to ordain married men to the Catholic priesthood?**

No

[Salvation]

Pope Defends Clergy Celibacy Order
Has the Time Come to Consider Making Celibacy Truly Optional In the Western Church?
Catholic Scandals: A Crisis for Celibacy?
Celibacy of the priesthood is a church strength, not a liability
Celibacy s history of power and money

Pope: Priests Must Stay Celibate
Giving Thanks for the Good Shepherds ( A Defense of Priestly Celibacy)
Don't end celibacy for priests
The celibate superhero
Priestly Celibacy And Its Roots In Christ

How to Refute Arguments Against Priestly Celibacy
Priestly Celibacy Reflects Who - and Whose - We Are[Father George W.Rutler]
Celibacy
Tracing the Glorious Origins of Celibacy
God’s call to celibacy for the sake of His Kingdom - by Card. George

Vatican Says Celibacy Rule Nonnegotiable
Bishop Attacks Move to End Celibacy
A response to Fr. Joseph Wilson's defense of mandatory celibacy
The gift of Priestly celibacy as a sign of the charity of Christ, by Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Archbishop Dolan:"We Need to Be Renewing Our Pledge to Celibacy, Not Questioning It"

Celibacy is gift cherished by church
Celibacy Will Save the Priesthood
Celibacy Defended by EWTN's Fr. Levis
Call To Action: Dump Celibacy
The (Catholic) Church Has Always Prospered When Celibacy Is Honored

John Paul II Hails "Inestimable Value" of Priestly Celibacy
For Priests, Celibacy Is Not the Problem
Fr. Shannon Collins Discusses Celibacy
5 Arguments Against (Catholic) Priestly Celibacy and How to Refute Them
Why A Married Priesthood Won't Remedy the Priest Shortage

New Vatican Document on Homosexuality and the Priesthood Coming Before Fall 2005
Catholic priests demand the right to marry
Catholic priests urge Church to reconsider celibacy rules
Alternative Priests´ Council Hits Back on Mandatory Celibacy
Married Priests? The English Experience

Saying Yes to God: a Look into Vocations
New Vatican Document to Eliminate 1961 Papal Ban on Ordaining Homosexuals
Saying Yes to God: a Look into Vocations

Is it time to ordain married men to the Catholic priesthood?

[Vicomte13]

Is it time?

No, it isn't.

[ex 98C MI Dude]

A priest must be devoted to the Church, and to his flock in his parish. A married priest would be forced to divide his time between God, his parish, and the demands of a family. This speaks nothing to the idea of a divorced priest, as abhorrent as that would be. With the demands of modern life upon a family, I expect there would be many divorced priests. The Church would be poorer for it.

The argument about married priests leading to inheritance of property problems was actually a false one. The Church property belongs to the Church. The problem was the concept of inheriting the office and titles of the father (offices and titles were very big deals back then, less so now). So it was determined that priests should be required to practice celibacy. It was not a novel concept, but one dating back to Biblical times. It has worked well, until recently, when the decay of society seeped in.

The next Pope will have to reinforce the bulwarks against the decay, and turn back what has seeped in (especially in the American Church). It is a tall order.