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To: RobbyS
Our eastern brothers have another problem. Finding a woman who will endure the relative poverty of clerical life. Which is why so many Greek priests are involuntarily celibate.

Very true... The Catholic dioceses that have accepted married clergy converts as priests have to make great efforts to ensure that they are in positions where they can earn enough to support their families. This would be impossible if a larger percentage of priests were married.

Likewise, I'm not sure what the particular arrangements are for married permanent deacons, but I do know that many of them have 'day jobs.'

41 posted on 01/31/2011 7:19:42 AM PST by GCC Catholic
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To: GCC Catholic

A married clergy would be a “profession,” in the narrow, bourgeoisie sense of the word, rather than a calling. Even evangelicals understand the difference between a servant==which is the ministers they “call,” and an employee. A servant, they expect much more from. Hence if he has a wife, she, too, is expected to serve. Of course, wealthy congregation tend to think in terns more like an employer-employee relationship, like between a public school board and a superintendent.


43 posted on 01/31/2011 7:36:42 AM PST by RobbyS (Pray with the suffering souls.)
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