Thanks. I think it’s because of the church and state separation(in the original sense, i.e. protecting the church from the state, not the other way around as today’s psycholib atheists constantly holler) we’ve enjoyed in American culture since the founding. As a Protestant, I have my disagreements with Rome(if I didn’t, I’d be a Roman Catholic myself) but since membership in any religion is voluntary here, I am free not to attend an RC church and to attend a PCA one instead. In the same manner, Roman Catholics are free to put whatever requirements on their clergymen and laity that they wish. Those who agree with this are free to remain, those who do not are free to leave. Freedom’s a wonderful thing that today’s liberals seem to confuse with licentiousness.
Sidenote: in the Protestant world, clergymen have the opposite issue to deal with. If he doesn’t have a wife, the vast majority of Protestant churches will refuse to even consider hiring him. For example, I have a Baptist preacher cousin who had great trouble finding a church to pastor because he was single for a long time. Thankfully, he’s now married to a wonderful lady and they have an adorable baby boy.
“Freedom’s a wonderful thing that today’s liberals seem to confuse with licentiousness.”
Excellent! That’s exactly right.