[uncbob]

A celibate priest never has to choose between going out at 3 AM to adminster last rights to a dying parishoner, or staying home to care for his sick child.

Cut me a break .
How often does ANY priest go out at 3AM to administer the last rights
And how often would it occur with a sick child that needs attention at 3AM

If this is the best you can come up with your argument is worthless

[Ann Archy]

You want priests to date and then marry, right? Who would support the wife, the Church? The priest makes almost NO money...would you buy your Mrs. Priest some Dresses..I doubt it.

What if they had more kids than YOU thought they SHOULD have..on a priest's salary of course. What if she wasn't Catholic? What if SHE had an affair? What ifSHE said the wrong thing to someone. What if she became an invalid and needed him to be there most of the time?

They would need a house for every priest that was married...are you going to GIVE more every Sunday for this.....I doubt it.

This is bigger than a sound bite.."Let them Marry".

[fatima]

I know all who do,I once knew a preist who was on the rescue squad and got the police calls,Father would be there for all,no matter what your faith.

[saradippity]

I am sorry but you are wrong.Because of a job I had in a hospital I can assure you that clergy are called in frequently in the middle of the night. I would say their availablity was the greatest evangelization tool ever. Staff in the E.R.,CCUs and switchboard regularly commented on the fact that when called the priests came. They also said most other clergy were on message machines or responded that they would be in first thing in the morning.

[Antoninus]

How often does ANY priest go out at 3AM to administer the last rights.

See post 111. Thanks, saradippity. A celibate priest is able to dedicate his entire existence to serving Christ's people on Earth. The same can not be said for a married minister, no matter how personally holy he is or how well his wife and children understand that they come second in his life.