Clearly this very question is a direct attack on the celibacy rules for clergy in the Catholic Church. Why can’t people accept that rules are rules, and if you want to be a married priest, there are other ways to go about doing it (even within the Catholic Church!) without whining about the rules imposed by the Catholic Church.
That’s almost like asking if self-discipline is psychologically dangerous.
;-))
I’m a Catholic who tries to obey all the rules. I think priests should too. I just don’t think there are that many celibate heterosexual men who can do the priestly job we want done.
I’d like to see that rule changed. I think other Christian religions have handled married clergy well. I wouldn’t want to see female priests if it meant they would be bringing modern Feminism into their sermons and remainder of their mission.
The vast majority of priests I've known have been very down to earth men, and didn't seem to have any psychological problems. My brother-in-law is a priest, so I know about many of his priest friends, as well, and believe me they are ALL watchful for any wierdness on the part of their 'brothers'.
Uncoupling sex from reproduction has had many deleterious effects including the extreme rates of STD’s.
It hurts hedonist’s little heads to consider that one may voluntarily refrain from wallowing in sex.
Saint John Eudes said that when God is angry with His people, He sends them bad priests as a chastisement.
Here is what he wrote in his book, The Priest, His Dignity and Obligations:
“The most evident mark of God’s anger and the most terrible castigation He can inflict upon the world are manifested when He permits His people to fall into the hands of clergy who are priests more in name than in deed, priests who practice the cruelty of ravening wolves rather than charity and affection of devoted shepherds ...
“When God permits such things, it is a very positive proof that He is thoroughly angry with His people, and is visiting His most dreadful anger upon them. That is why He cries unceasingly to Christians, ‘Return O ye revolting children ... and I will give you pastors according to My own heart’. (Jer. 3:14,15) Thus, irregularities in the lives of priests constitute a scourge upon the people in consequence of sin.”4
Saint John Eudes warns us that as punishment for man’s sins, God will send us priests who are not according to His own heart, who have a different spirit from that of the Sacred Heart of Our Lord, who have a different heart from that of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart.