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I don't know if celibacy is the way to go. After all, celibacy of priests is a fairly new concept, brought about by financial considerations more than anything else.

My biggest complaint regarding Catholic priests not being able to mary is that celibate priests have little credibility when trying to give advice abourt marriage, relationships etc. It keeps them out of touch with a very important part of the lives of their flock.

The Orthodox Church has always allowed priests to marry. We haven't seen any sex scandals in the Orthodox Church.

Finally, allowing married priests would encourage men to become priests and lower the percentage of homosexuals in the ministry. With a larger pool of priest-applicants to choose from, the Catholic Church could do a better job of screening out potentially problematic candidates.

With a larger pool of priest-applicants to choose from, the Catholic Church could do a better job of screening out potentially problematic candidates.

A couple of things from an ignorant layman. When I hear people say what you've said, I always think of the Protestant and even the Orthodox communites who are also experiencing a lack of vocations and clergy. You know where celibacy is an option it will become the exception - and that will leave us where our separated brethren are at.

There is a meticulously researched book by Cardinal Stickler (love the name!) "The Case for Clerical Celibacy" which is available on amazon.com - pretty cheap and pretty short. It is the factual history of the priesthood based on available texts. It's very well footnoted and when I read it, I was very surprised at how old the celibate priesthood is and how it was not (finally) enforced over monetary concerns.

I don't know if celibacy is the way to go. After all, celibacy of priests is a fairly new concept, brought about by financial considerations more than anything else.

Incorrect. Celibacy and the Catholic priesthood finds its origins with the Apostles. Celibacy and the Levitical priesthood finds its origins with Melchisedech in the Old Testament. The "financial considerations" claim is an urban legend. Suggest you study Canons XXVII and XXXIII of the Council of Elvira and Canon III of the Council of Carthage, which says in part:

"It is fitting that the holy bishops and priests of God as well as the Levites, i.e. those who are in the service of the divine sacraments, observe perfect continence, so that they may obtain in all simplicity what they are asking from God; what the Apostles taught and what antiquity itself observed, let us also endeavour to keep... It pleases us all that bishop, priest and deacon, guardians of purity, abstain from conjugal intercourse with their wives, so that those who serve at the altar may keep a perfect chastity." (emphasis added)

The Orthodox Church has always allowed priests to marry. We haven't seen any sex scandals in the Orthodox Church.

The Orthodox Church does indeed ordain married men but once ordained single priests may not then get married. Suggest you read about these sexual abuse cases in the Orthodox Church:

Protection of the Theotokos.

The argument that allowing for a married clergy would solve the sins of sexual abuse is a specious one at best and is soundly refuted by the many examples of Protestant sex abusers.

Enforcement of the Vatican's 1961 ban on ordaining homosexuals would render the problem of sexual abuse of minors virtually nonexistant.

celibacy is now seen as a biblical thing by many. it was a rule made by man and can be undone by man without a fallout with god!

celibacy in priesthood tend to attract men that are already sexually confused and most of them are GAY. there is a big GAY cabal in the priesthood because of celibacy.

sex is very important to men. to deny them of having it is unnatural and will wreak serious havoc in the long run. men and will always find ways to satisfy that sexual urge. and most times what they do under being denied that is far worse than letting them get married.

the end result of celibacy is not pretty. gay sex is a very dangerous sex and most of the priests-gone-wrong do this with boys. they risk spreading aids to these boys as well as commiting an unspeakable crime/sin against a trusting boy, his family and humanity.

i say let the priest marry. that might not end the problem with sex molestations but it will minimize it. a lot of religions allow their own to marry and there are still men there molesting kids so i am not saying that celibacy is the only reason.

but it will tone down the activities of the gay cabal in the priesthood.