Replies

From my vantage point, however, there is reason to believe that the faithful will view this "exception" not as an arcane, rarely exercised prerogative of the church but instead as a key stepping stone to rescission of the rule - an outcome that might spawn even more revolutionary changes in the Catholic Church, especially during the reign of Pope John Paul II's successor.

If the Church keeps ordaining these guys--and there's no sign that it won't--then look for the acceptance of married priests to continue to grow.

If the Church doesn't want a married priesthood, how does continuing to ordain married men strengthen the argument that married men can't be good priests?

>>If the Church doesn't want a married priesthood, how does continuing to ordain married men strengthen the argument that married men can't be good priests?<<

Ordaining married priests is consistent with the way the Orthodox churches do. Allowing an unmarried priest to marry leads to the risk that he will marry one of his congregation, which is unethical because it is a conflict of interest.

As a lawyer, I would analogize from the rules against lawyers having sex with clients and doctors having sex with patients.

Doctors, lawyers and priests all have confidential relationships with their patients/clients/congregation that leads to potential abuse for several reasons - inbalance of power, knowledge of secrets, abuse of trust, taking advantage of somebody when they are at their weakest and need somebody to help them.

That's what's so especially awful about priests having sex with children -- the parents and the children trusted the priest, who is in a special position of trust that allows greater access to intimacy than you'd allow in someone less trusted.

Protestant ministers have the same risk, I suppose, but typically they marry young while they are under the supervision of an older pastor who will be watching them. Indeed, we know from Jane Austen that Anglican ministers were not above marrying a young rich member of their congregation for her money.

Against my argument is the argument that ministers being married doesn't prevent adultery even on a spectacular scale, as in Jimmy Swaggart.