[43north]

Someone correct me if I am wrong but as I recall from history priests were allowed to marry until about the 6th century. The practice was outlawed because of many scandals involving marrying for the sake of obtaining the rights to property or some such thing as were the customs of the time. Certainly this is not a relevant reason today.

Personally, I think it would be a healthy thing to have married priests. Let the flames begin.

[Conservative til I die]

Someone correct me if I am wrong but as I recall from history priests were allowed to marry until about the 6th century. The practice was outlawed because of many scandals involving marrying for the sake of obtaining the rights to property or some such thing as were the customs of the time. Certainly this is not a relevant reason today.

Celibacy has always been preferred. Yes, at various times, celibacy has been more of the rule than at other times. However, celibacy has always been preferred and for a majority of the Church's history, mandated. One thing to note is that in all Rites of the Church both East and West, bishops have always been drawn from the ranks of the celibate.

Personally, I think it would be a healthy thing to have married priests. Let the flames begin.

The reason the flames will begin is because you're just giving us your personal 21-st century-centric opinion with no reasoning to back it up.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Someone correct me if I am wrong but as I recall from history priests were allowed to marry until about the 6th century.

Married men were indeed ordained but they were required to adopt the discipline of lex continentiae, total continence regarding a conjugal life with their spouse. Once ordained, single priests were not allowed to marry.

Suggest you brush up on your history by reading the following:

[RobbyS]

My understand is that it was that married men were allowed to become priests AND bishops.