Should Priests be allowed to get married?

The official reason the church didn't allow marriage of the clergy was to keep son's from inheriting their father's positions (much like nobility). Over the years, it reason changed to keep the clergy from being distracted from "Earthly" worries.... In any case, I think the time for Catholic celibacy is over. Some of the youth look at the Priests as being out of touch and not knowing much about life; thus, there are many who are Catholics in name only. I'm a former Catholic, and have been stating this for many years.

I think Catholic Priests should be able to marry if they so choose. Most religious elders do so. It is only the Catholic church that denies it's elder's such rights. I've heard the arguments by the church saying that priests are to emulate Christ, that because he didn't marry the priests shouldn't. That it allows them to concentrate just on their community. The problem is now a days far too many are considered out dated and out of touch for the community to really deal with them. Society as a general rule does not want to be told how to behave by celibate old men who have no clue about how the world really works. I'm not saying this is an accurate image but it is one that many have towards priests. No I don't think it would have stopped those who abused children. You have that type anyways. Marriage does not stop pedophilia. However it might stop the ones who have a mistress on the side and that can be a scandle for the church.

The vow of celibacy should not be removed! but if the priests wishes to get married then he should get out on being a priest and live a normal life as a lay man not a priest, he have no rights to celebrate mass again and be out of priesthood, i thnk that would be fair enough..

Yes, there is no scriptural reason for it and, contrary to popular opinion, some Roman Catholic priests are allowed to marry. The Roman Catholics Church in Lebanon allows its priests to marry I am informed. all the best urban

YES. I think priests should be able to get married, because, they are also human. If I'm not mistaken at one time Catholic priests could not married, not sure if it was change and I think that's why there were so many molestation within the Catholic Churches.

The rule was instituted because of a good purpose. Man is wasn't necessary always vulnerable to greed, but being a priest living on a meager living and raising a family at the same time may give sufficient reasons for the priest to do something in order to let his family survive. It's a vow - something that comes with the responsibility of being a priest. It's like what they say when you are in the military - If you don't want to be bound by rules, then get out of the institution. I don't think this vow should be removed. If a priest wants to have a family then he should get out of priesthood. He has to make a choice - being a servant of God is not just any common task - it is a vocation.

I think that they should be able to get married just like anyone else . I think that them beeing married would make them more "human" as well. I am sur ethat things will change with time =)

Oh yes...why not? Priest should marry. Well actually religon should get changed or updated from time to time. Its better for the future of the religon. The celibacy of the catholic priests must be proclaimed for some true, genuine and noble reasons BUT 2000 years before. No time has changed. Need has changed. The challanges against religon also changed. Now religon cannot be stern and tough, It is out to be flexible or it will be uprooted a day. We often come across to the news and instances in which catholic Presists engaged in Child abuse and Gay relation ship. Thus these instances add to glory of catholics? Certainly not. But I'm afraid it will be increasing in future if priests are not allowed to marry soon!

I strongly feel that priests should get married. The disciples were married. They were the 'first' priests. I know they feel the vow of celibacy is a sign of great sacrifice and devotion to God. I don't know if we will see this rule changed in our lifetimes. I also doubt we will see women as anything but nuns.

if i may be permitted, i will go to the opposite side for the discussions sake. If priests would be married and have children, they would always be torn between the needs of the family, the wife, the children & serving the church/community. Let's say here in our country the priests(but not all) have a big role in the community, letting people be aware of their faith, feeding the less privileged, being the psychologist/counseling, helping people with their problems, managing the other departments of the church, etc.. So if the priests have a family, they would first worry of their "family concerns" like children getting sick, wife needs, childrens needs, financial needs, school needs, personal needs, etc.. I hope others won't be offended in my statements but I have known a friend whose mother is a former nun. She doesn't have time for her son as she wanted to serve her community just like being a nun because there is a need for her to serve. The son turned out to be problematic & had a very troubled childhood and had negative manifestations in his adulthood. This example is also similar to a priest having a family but wouldn't let go of his vocation. As they say "You can't serve 2 masters, one would always suffer."

i think priests should be allowed to get married . if they will not marry then how there generation will carry on and then we would not have any priests in the future . and other reason is that priests are also human , they are made by the same god and they have the same biological and natural function inside their body as other person have . then why should they not do this very natural thing .

I think that they should be given the option to marry and have a family. I am not aware of anything in scripture that say that you have to be celibant to serve God. No one so many of them rape kids, and live in the closet

Yes, i think priests should also be allowed to get married. There's nothing wrong in marrying someone. Yes, at this time already, the vow of celebacy should already be changed and that the priests be able to get married. I think this one is better than for those priests committing sins of having affairs. Because i have heard stories that the priests have affairs too. So, if the vow of celebacy will be changed, then it will do good for the priests.

priest should be allowed to get married because other than a priest he his a human being and he has a right to live his life to fullest and fulfill his needs also and no one can tell him that he cant get married because he his a priest

Yes, definitely. I believe that it is imperative that priests marry. In that way they would be much better prepared to deal with their parish members basing their advice/council not only on their book learning but also from personal experiences. How is it possible for a priest to council young married couples and their problems which could lead to divorce? They don't know the happiness and brutality of marriage. But I feel marriage is a "must" for priests to cut down pedophily and illegitemate children. They practice "marriage" out of sight and the Church many times looks the other way. There was a case here in Portugal a year or so ago when a priest made it public that he had a 7 year old daughter. It seems that right after she was born he informed the Archbishop who immediately transferred him to another parish and told me to keep it quiet or he would be excommunicated. He went along with the decision only because he was dedicated to his service to the community and his religion. However, it got the better of him and he couldn't keep it quiet any longer as he wanted to be near his daughter. I can't remember what the final result was but I think that he left the church and married the mother. The parishioners did what they could to get the Church to change their decision but it refused. Portugal is a Catholic country loaded with old priests. The young men are not as dedicated nor are their mothers so insistent to have one priest in the family. I know of one young priest up north who had a way with the people in the small community. I was stunned when I heard that he had left the Church to take a job in a bank. I feel that if the Vatican wants to keep their Church going they should start a recruiting campaign using the choice of marrying should they want to do so. There is absolutely no harm in this. The Church seems to forget that all the disciples were married. Good discussion. +

I think they should have the option to marry. It shouldn't be manatory that all priests get married. Maybe it should depend on which parrish you are in. some parrishs could be open to married clergy and others for non- married clergy. That way if a congregation can live with a married priest they will have one. But if they can't they can have a non-married one.

NO sin with married, so i think that no reason for not allowed priest to get married. priest can near with God even they married. it's all depend to our desire. if you can live single, it's much better to priest lived like that, but if the priest can't be like that,i think that much better to us not force the priest to still single.

Well, its the tradition of Catholic...its their Belief.... If they do that...and wanted to get married...then get out of the catholic church then be reverend of Prostestant. Maybe catholic should stand on their oath to celibacy, chastity...if they cannot stand it which is understandable then why break the rules when you could still get away with it...This is just more of Catholic issues. If only Catholics will keep their vow than these issues is no longer a problem.

I am not against the proposition that priest be allowed to marry, indeed they may do so. The only problem is when they get married and have children who will shoulder the burden of getting the children of the pastor to school or how would the pastor earn his living of course he will be forced to find a decent job aside from being priest and these is the side I am most worried should the parishioners help the priest by providing him and his family with enough earnings to shoulder family spending or should he be forced to find a decent job aside from being a priest. Because for all you know a priest earning is just a stipend from what the parishioners share. so how's that to be resolve. The fact is he is now divided between his two vocation being a priest and a family man.

I think that they should because they are human and have needs and getting married would make any actions that they conduct legit.