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I think it prevents many a highly capable person from serving. In turn I think that creates a chronic shortage of priests which makes the church far less likely to defrock a priest in the event of misconduct. I mean, if a clergyman committed those outrages in a Protestant or Anglican church, the response would have been swift and unequivocal. I know this, because I've seen various denominations respond when even a whiff of scandal arises regarding one of their clergy. Meanwhile, the Catholic would give the offending priest a stern talking-to, perhaps some counseling, and then ship him off to an unsuspecting parish.
Further, priestly celibacy was not even required in the early church. For example, in Paul's letter to Timothy, he clearly states that a priest or bishop should only have one wife -- and he wasn't speaking figuratively.
Personally, I also believe that a celibate priest has little real authority or insight in counseling his flock on the subject of family life, given that he has no chance of having one himself. It would be the akin of a tenured economics professor lacking real-world experience telling me how to run my company. At least with married clergy, they totally get what it's like to be married and raising children.
In fact, the Catholic church didn't require priestly celibacy until two lateran councils in the 11th century settled the matter for good. So the Catholic Church allowed married priests for the first 50% of its existence. Why not allow it now?
I agree. Even Peter was married. The Bible mentions about Jesus healing Peter's wife's mother, so obviously he was married (Mt. 8:14).
I think if the Roman Catholic priests to marry, it would drastically reduce incidents of molestation of boys by priests. There is only one case among Episcopalian priests and none among Orthodox priests that
I 've heard about. Episcopals allow priests to marry and the Orthodox churches make celibacy optional.
That sounds absolutely ridiculous to me...crazy...that's like saying any man who's not married might not be able to resist molesting little boys...really?..doesn't matter what their denomination, there can be NO reason or excuse for hurting a little one, other than that you are evil!!!
I'm not saying that at all, but I think it could help if one were married. I know this is an anecdotal postulate that I made, and I'd like to see if there were any studies made related to the issue. People used to really fear that gay teachers would molest boys from their classes. I don't believe that. It is more likely for a married man to do that. However, it is a bit unnatural not to have sex for the whole of one's life.
I'm not saying that at all, but I think it could help if one were married. I know this is an anecdotal postulate that I made, and I'd like to see if there were any studies made related to the issue. People used to really fear that gay teachers would molest boys from their classes. I don't believe that. It is more likely for a married man to do that. However, it is a bit unnatural not to have sex for the whole of one's life.
I wanted to get people's feedback.
Being married would help stop pedophiles from molesting children?? Come on now!
Among the clergy class in the world, it is well known that homosexuality is quite prevalent in the Roman Catholic clergy. Rome's ban on priestly marriage is totally against scripture. Most people have natural urges toward sex mating etc. If people do not have an outlet for these feelings, they bottle them up, but it doesn't work. Its going to manifest itself in some way. God already knows this. Allowing priests to marry would clear up a lot of their problems, but it will never happen. Rome would admitting that their teaching on this has been wrong for well over 500 years.
1Co 7:2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
1Co 7:9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn.
1Ti 4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.1Ti 4:2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 1Ti 4:3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.
1Ti 3:2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
Very good post! I don't agree with you on much of anything, but I do on this.
Being married doesn't stop men from sexually abusing children - either boys or girls. In fact most child sexual abuse is perpetrated within families by a father, uncle, grandfather, brother, step-father, etc.
According to all the research from the past 60 years, the profile of the majority of child molesters (of either boys or girls) is male, heterosexual, married and religious. BTW, only a small percentage (approx. 7% according to one of the largest studies of over 4000 child molesters) are true pedophiles who have no attraction to adults and are only attracted to children.
Being married would help stop pedophiles from molesting children?? Come on now!
Not all pedophiles, but it could, I said, help - by channeling sexual urges in a proper direction. Also, maybe you should consider the possibility that the priesthood could draw pedophiles or men with pedophile tendencies to it. It would give them a cloak to hide behind (not being married in our society) and ready access to altar boys.
Being married doesn't stop men from sexually abusing children - either boys or girls. In fact most child sexual abuse is perpetrated within families by a father, uncle, grandfather, brother, step-father, etc.
According to all the research from the past 60 years, the profile of the majority of child molesters (of either boys or girls) is male, heterosexual, married and religious. BTW, only a small percentage (approx. 7% according to one of the largest studies of over 4000 child molesters) are true pedophiles who have no attraction to adults and are only attracted to children.
There you go again - muddying the waters of ignorance with facts!
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