News and a question. Should the Catholic church allow clergy to marry? (priests, quote)

[John1960]

Should the Catholic church allow clergy to marry?

News, LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- A judge on Monday approved a $660 million settlement between the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles and more than 500 alleged victims of clergy abuse, the largest payout yet in a nationwide sex abuse scandal.


Tears flow as judge OKs record clergy abuse payout - CNN.com (broken link)

[Virote]

I've a similar thread.

Yes.

But, I don't think it would help the pedophilia.

[MontanaGuy]

This question doesn't really offer a solution to pedophilia or homosexuality. I do think it would make sense to expand the ranks of priests to include married men but those who are homosexuals are not going to be impacted by any change in Catholic policies that include marriage. This is a very complex problem and I don't see any easy solution to it.

[Jazzedforhim]

Originally Posted by Virote

I've a similar thread.

Yes.

But, I don't think it would help the pedophilia.

I agree! ljfljdlfjalfjlajfd

[Marks]

I'm no fan of the RCC. And this rule is completly man made. There is nothing in the Scriptures stating otherwise.

[beth ann]

Originally Posted by Marks

I'm no fan of the RCC. And this rule is completly man made. There is nothing in the Scriptures stating otherwise.

The traditions comes from St. Paul's recommendation.....too tired to quote right now.

It's a practice....it's not doctrine, so it can change.

Although the Roman Rite is the largest Catholic Rite, I think there are about 6 or so rites. The Byzantine Rite does allows priests to be married.

[Lisa_from_Debary]

I was rather shocked to find out that indeed some Catholic priests are married.

There was a group about 15 years ago of Church of England ministers (not sure what they call them) who were married with families. They felt that the doctrine of the Catholic church was correct and that of C of E was not. They asked to return to the Catholic church and did.

I used to take a class from a woman who was married AND had children with her husband who was a Catholic Priest...I said WOW...who knew?

[Mark S.]

True. Some Catholic priests are married.

And I agree that if the rules on priests marrying were relaxed, it might help to attract more young men to the priesthood, but it won't be any deterrant to pedophilia. Pedophiles aren't pedophiles because they are unmarried.

[beth ann]

Originally Posted by Mark S.

True. Some Catholic priests are married.

And I agree that if the rules on priests marrying were relaxed, it might help to attract more young men to the priesthood, but it won't be any deterrant to pedophilia. Pedophiles aren't pedophiles because they are unmarried.

True about the pedophilia.

I happen to live in a diocese where we actually have higher than average number of men being ordained to the priesthood. Many of our current priests,as well as newly-ordained ones, are young.

We're also one of the most conservative dioceses in country.....go figure.

[sun]

Although I've always naturally thought Priests should be allowed to marry and voted that way, this is a more complicated question than it appears, since supporting it would probably imply that Nuns should also be allowed to marry.

Then there's the question of whether women should be able to enter the Priesthood, and which would be more preferable, having celibate male & female Priests, or having only male Priests who are allowed to marry.
Even if marriage were allowed, Priests could still voluntarily choose to be celibate.