[Smokin' Joe]

The simplest and most practical reason is that no pastor can be truly free to do the Lord's work if he has a family. With his time divided between his family and his flock, inevitably conflict will arise.

Which is not to say raising a family is not God's work, too, just that attempting to do both is a herculean task, for no man can serve two masters.

[metmom]

The family is not a *master* That quote is in regards to money, not family. Again, plenty of protestant ministers have very successful ministries while married. That argument about being better able to serve God may be a rationalization, but it doesn’t hold water.

OTOH, there is no wife alongside him to take care of his needs, so it is up to him to do all the things that a wife could and would help out with, helping around the house, cooking meals, doing laundry, providing a sounding board and emotional support.

Clearly the no wife thing isn’t working out so well these days judging by the lack of numbers of men interested in joining the priesthood.