100 Married Priests Join Catholic Ranks In Growing Trend

Despite its insistence on celibate priests, the Catholic Church is opening its arms to married priests who convert from other denominations, causing some to question the necessity of celibacy in the first place.

[RICRA Philippines]

I find no sense in accepting married priests from different denominations when the Church would not allow our Catholic priests to marry. Are those accepted married priests to bring their wives in? Or whether they would be celibate?

[requiescat in pace]

RICRA Philippines wrote:

I find no sense in accepting married priests from different denominations when the Church would not allow our Catholic priests to marry. Are those accepted married priests to bring their wives in? Or whether they would be celibate?

We have seem quite a bit of this in the States-especially from ordained (already married) clergy of Anglican or Lutheran backgrounds.
Is this the hole in the dike of RCC priestly celibacy?

[Ye Olde Fart]

RICRA Philippines wrote:

I find no sense in accepting married priests from different denominations when the Church would not allow our Catholic priests to marry. Are those accepted married priests to bring their wives in? Or whether they would be celibate?

This is nothing new. I know of two cases 40 years ago. The priests are allowed to bring their wife and family with them. Don't forget the children in this.

[mg girl]

A married priest once said that, even though as an Eastern rite priest he is allowed to be married, he feels constantly pulled in opposite directions--priestly duties vs. family duties. Even though, Eastern Catholic priests and priests in other denominations are allowed to marry, there is still a shortage. It's a matter of faith, not celibacy.

[RICRA Philippines]

Catholic priests made a covenant during their acceptance to the priesthood to remain unmarried and celibate. They made their choice. Let them keep them. If they can violate such a covenant with the Creator who could trust them. Certainly not I.

[snyper]

RICRA Philippines wrote:

Catholic priests made a covenant during their acceptance to the priesthood to remain unmarried and celibate. They made their choice. Let them keep them. If they can violate such a covenant with the Creator who could trust them. Certainly not I.

N.B. "celibate" means "unmarried". You mean "chaste" and celibate.

It was always a stupid requirement that contradicted Paul's requirement that church staff demonstrate a healthy and integrated spirituality in their home life in order to be elligible for higher positions.

[crime]

What did the Early Fathers of the Church say about married clergy?
The Church Fathers of the first four centuries consistently spoke against the married priesthood.(Eusibius, Augustine, Tertullian, Origen, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, St. Jerome etc..) St. Epiphanius speaks of the accepted ecclesiastical rule of the priesthood (kanona tes ierosynes) as something established by the Apostles.(Haer., xlviii, 9) "Holy Church", he says, "respects the dignity of the priesthood to such a point that she does not admit to the diaconate, the priesthood, or the episcopate, nor even to the subdiaconate, anyone still living in marriage and begetting children." (Haer., lix, 4).

The writings of the Church fathers show that, in the early Church, married priests were not the accepted norm in the main centres of Alexandria, Antioch and Rome. They considered it a "problem" that existed in the outlying regions. By the 3rd century there were almost no married priests and several councils put the issue to rest until around the 9th century when many bishops and priests took wives and had children. The state of the priesthood fell to an all time low. A huge problem emerged with priests "willing" Church property to their families. Up to that point, the principle of celibacy was never completely surrendered in the official enactments of the Church. In 1123, celibacy was made official. Although, throughout history there have been scattered instances of abuses of the Canon Law, the Roman Catholic Church has consistently stuck to this position on celibate priests.

What does the Bible say about being married and ministering the Word?
There was much theology around the concept of a priest being the "bride of Christ" (Jn 3:29, Rev 18:23, 19:7, 21:9, 21:17. This was considered in the Church's decision. Scripture fairly consistently awards celibacy a higher spiritual calling than marriage.

...it is well for them to remain unmarried as I am...it is well for you to remain as you are...do not seek a wife...he who refrains from marriage will do better...(I Cor., 7-8 and 32-38)

Paul says that celibacy provides "unhindered devotion to the Lord. " (1 cor 7:35) Jesus tells us "it is better not to marry...let anyone accept this who can." (Mat 19:10-12)

Some biblical arguments for a married priesthood have been set out citing 1 Tim. 3: 2, 12 and Titus 1: 6 that a bishop or a deacon should be "the husband of one wife." A careful read of these passages points to Paul's concern about remarried priests. Catholics feel the section is aimed at removing those who are on their second marriages, rather than pushing for a married clergy. Although Paul did not expressly lay out a married priesthood he consistently held celibacy as preferable.

In Jewish law the priesthood was passed on by blood relation and marriage was therefore necessary, but even so, Jewish priests of the Old Testament were required to abstain from sex during the periods when they were serving in the Temple for spiritual reasons. Catholic priests serve in the Temple every day.

[RICRA Philippines]

snyper42 wrote:

<quoted text>
N.B. "celibate" means "unmarried". You mean "chaste" and celibate.
It was always a stupid requirement that contradicted Paul's requirement that church staff demonstrate a healthy and integrated spirituality in their home life in order to be elligible for higher positions.

RICRA
One can be a celibate without being chaste for the latter denotes purity.