A male married Priest or a female Priest?

You know, it's not very difficult to understand if you only really take a good look at all of us. Let's take for example the single men and women. We as single people have a lot of freedom for ourselves, we can have fun all night and just do whatever we please, but when we do get married, our set of priorities change. We can't just go out every night, there's a family to feed. There are mortgages and other stuff to pay for. Bills are mounting and we have to send children to school. In short, things change when you get married. This is similar to a Single Priest, versus a married one. You can't expect a Priest to divide himself to God and family. You can't expect him to go to the communities and wherever he would be assigned to and leave his family behind because he's on a mission. The main reason why they want single Priests is the fact that they don't choose where they go, they won't stay at the parish all their lives, they'd be assign to parts of the world. Now, if there are married priests, what would happen to their families if they're away? If married men and women do want to serve God, there are many other ways, they could go on a mission together as missionaries or they could do catechisms every Sunday or something like that. Being a Priest isn't an 8-5pm job, it's 24/7. As for women Priests, well, if you start doing that, then all the Priests in the Seminary would be tempted and soon there'll be less and less Priests. This is why they are secluded when they study, they need to practice how it is to be apart from the world. They need to know that it's a vocation and a calling. Priesthood isn't something you'd just try on, it takes years to cultivate someone to decide for himself if he does want to live his life that way.

I get your point and it is all true but what about other denomations that allow marriage. My aunt married a baptist and converted cause she wanted her family to be raised in one church. Her husband always dreamt of becoming a Reverned and having his own church like his dad did. He did realise his dream, they have there church going on for 7 years now Family Unity Baptist Church. He balances the dutys of his church,his family and his community. When he has church members who are sick and in the hospital, he goes and prayes with them, when one of this church memebers needs his conusel he goes to them he sets up times to talk with them. he also does alot of communtiy outreach programs. He takes care of all of the business ends of there church as well with my aunts help all this while having a job as well. Him being a REV is a 24/7 job as well. So it can be done.Men and woman that have families and work for missionary organizations overseas sometimes take there family with them not all but some do. Men of other denomations get assigned and move to different churches accross the country and there family goes with them. They dont just stay and the man goes. Are men that have families less qualifed to preach the word? I don't think so. It is possible to still do all the duties required of a priest and still have a family. As far as male's going to the semiary and getting temped by the females going there as well if female were allowed, gosh.. we aren't giving these people alot of credit are we. Men and women who go to study together in seminaries for other denomation still come out knowing that what they have chosen is a vocation and not just a passing fancy. They can create a seminary just for women, that way the issue of being tempted can just go away and women could still be allowed to become priest. Deciding to become a priest or to go into any sort of religious way of live(like becoming a monk or a nun) isnt a decision one takes lightly and you are right it does take years to really know if this is something you want. What is wrong with having both? If it really comes down to the church not being able to continue because they aren't getting enough single males entering the seminary I would rather have a married priest or a female preist than no priest at all.

You do have good points there laydee. But statistics have shown that in countries like France and Ireland, traditionally considered the bread basket of priests, seminaries are drying up. You also have to remember that change is inevitable in this world, it's either we accept it or we rot away. It's probably not alarming in PI, but here in SG there are only 54 priest, including the bishop. 80% of them are senior citizens, and this year only 5 priest will be ordained. It has been said that in 2013 no local priest will be ordained here, so the church must look for other countries for resources, and one of them is PI. Even in most Latin American countries, this trend is true, so it is alarming and Vatican knows that. Cheers!

"It's actually not practical for a priest to be married." But what about those priests that are married? We need to get rid of these inventions practised by the Roman Church and return to the way of Christ. all the best urban

Yeah, that's why they tend to get priests from other countries like our country and other Asian countries as well. Having married priests won't solve the problem. Specially in these economic times. Remember that in the old days, they did allow priests to be married. So, it's not something new anymore. You could actually search that online. Plus remember, you don't need to be a Priest in order to follow God's ways, you could be a lay minister or be laymen/women to help in the mission of the church.