[NYer]

AFP/OR-HO - Thu Nov 16, 12:54 PM ET Pope Benedict XVI(C) meets with the Vatican hiearchy to discuss growing calls for the Roman Catholic Church to allow priests to marry. The Vatican rejected calls for the Roman Catholic Church to allow priests to marry, reaffirming the "importance" of celibacy despite fears of a schism over the issue.(AFP/OR-HO)

[Jaysun]

Could it be, as some have asserted, that celibacy was decided as a practical matter (kind of like fish on Friday) by the Church because having to support entire families instead of single Priest was too much of a financial burden?

I don't mean to be disrespectful, I think it's a legitimate question and I'm genuinely curious in your opinions.

I'm not Catholic, but I know that they have a lot of things right, such as not allowing women to serve as Priest - that's Biblical. But the Catholic Church is constantly attacked on a variety of fronts, including celibacy, and this is one front in which I wonder if the attackers might not have a point.

[marshmallow]

Celibacy stays? Uh-oh.....we're doomed...........so sez Milingo............