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To: livius

Of this I have no doubt. In every other denomination, priests truly called to serve would be looked at in the most unusual way for opting to remain celibate.

We have reduced the sexual act in humanity to animal level; anyone who doesn’t choose to do it must be crazy or gay. That is in direct contradiction to scriptures such as the one that celebrate becoming a eunich for the kingdom or st paul saying it would be better to remain single as he was, and Jesus was. It is also pointed out that single men and women can devote all their attention to the Lord, where married men and women must think of their spouses, thereby dividing their attentions, especially when there are family struggles with children or the marriage itself.

I always found it strange for married clergy, even when I was a baptist. Many of the families do suffer, and they do so in silence. Pastoring is even more demanding on time than being a surgeon or obstetrician. It can overwhelm even the strongest marriage.


6 posted on 10/25/2009 4:07:09 PM PDT by wombtotomb
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To: wombtotomb

I have seen that in the families of Orthodox priests. It’s an enormous strain for all concerned, not just the priest, and there were a lot of seriously dysfunctional families among them.


8 posted on 10/25/2009 4:15:35 PM PDT by livius
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