Christian Priests

I was told by a french guy that christian priests are not allowed to marry because love is seen as a sin?

I don't have a clue if theres any truth in this, so let me know

thanks

Only catholic priests dont marry (unless they are converts from protestantism who already had family). In orthodox christianity only high clergy dont marry. In protestantism all can marry I suppose. Catholic priests dont marry not because love is sin, but because first of all it is a Tradition, second the apostles didnt marry too, third Church believe that only unmarried men can focus on the faith, church community and his work as shepard.

Unmarried men can focus on faith better? I wonder what the Prophets of the Old Testament were thinking when they got married!

Well this doesn't make sense to me, how can they focus on faith more if they are unmarried? Think about it a MAN with no partner for the rest of his life I can only think of one thing his mind would be focused on more than his faith. I doubt we'd ever hear about gay priests molesting little boys if they'd been allowed to get married.

Just another place where christianity fails again

Amadeus85 said:

Only catholic priests dont marry (unless they are converts from protestantism who already had family). In orthodox christianity only high clergy dont marry. In protestantism all can marry I suppose. Catholic priests dont marry not because love is sin, but because first of all it is a Tradition, second the apostles didnt marry too, third Church believe that only unmarried men can focus on the faith, church community and his work as shepard.

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But the Maronite Catholic priests are allowed to marry .. right?

I have read many jokes about unmarried Catholic priests (Father) and nuns. I'm sure those jokes are written by Protestant Christians. But I never found any joke about Protestant Christian that written by Catholic.
I don't understand, why they insult another Christian ?.

aadil77 said:

Think about it a MAN with no partner for the rest of his life I can only think of one thing his mind would be focused on more than his faith. I doubt we'd ever hear about gay priests molesting little boys if they'd been allowed to get married.

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The vast majority of Catholic priests and monks, not to mention monastics in my own and other religious traditions, are quite capable of not 'only thinking of one thing'. It's hardly fair to judge them by your own standards (and hormones). However, there's probably some truth in your second sentence although marriage would hardly eliminate the problem; there are sadly many paedophiles with outwardly normal family lives. The real problem is the unsuitability of some of those selected (or not rejected) for the priesthood.

Trumble said:

The vast majority of Catholic priests and monks, not to mention monastics in my own and other religious traditions, are quite capable of not 'only thinking of one thing'. It's hardly fair to judge them by your own standards (and hormones). However, there's probably some truth in your second sentence although marriage would hardly eliminate the problem; there are sadly many paedophiles with outwardly normal family lives. The real problem is the unsuitability of some of those selected (or not rejected) for the priesthood.

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Haha ok my standards then, well you'd know if you were a man or you could just look around a bit at society or even just at the child fondling gay priests.
I think marriage would eliminate the most of the problem because once they'd have their needs fulfilled then they might implement some of those christian teachings to take care of the rest their problem.

aadil77 said:

I think marriage would eliminate the most of the problem because once they'd have their needs fulfilled then they might implement some of those christian teachings to take care of the rest their problem.

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I think you are confusing different 'needs'. If they just needed normal sex they could take off the dog-collar and find a prostitute. The problem is not priests becoming paedophiles because they don't get sex, it's paedophiles becoming priests.

If there is a distinct priesthood whereby a man is ordained and set aside for the service of God, it should also follow that he is totally set aside from all things of the world and not just in part. For this reason the Church from the earliest of centuries has required her clergy to be celibate.

Priestly Celibacy, is one of the Pillars of the Church and for this reason it is under so much attack. And yet the Catholic faith is hardly the only religion to expect celibacy of its priests. Both ancient and modern religions have had that as a natural requirement in whole or in part for the various ministers of their religions. i.e. Vestal Virgins of Pagan Rome and some of the various pagan priests. IT is no small thing, that so vigorous an attack is being waged against priestly celibacy, in a time were impurity and fornication is rampant. In every age in which the Church begins to diminish in dignity and respect, simultaneously along with it we find that priestly celibacy is undermined. This was the case in pontificate of the Saintly Pope Gregory VII who zealously fought against the German clergy who wanted to make light the Church’s demand for clerical celibacy. The same rings true today.

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http://www.catholicapologetics.info/apologetics/general/celibacy.htm

Please read this article further for more information on Celibacy in the Catholic Priesthood.

Amadeus85 said:

Only catholic priests dont marry (unless they are converts from protestantism who already had family). In orthodox christianity only high clergy dont marry. In protestantism all can marry I suppose. Catholic priests dont marry not because love is sin, but because first of all it is a Tradition, second the apostles didnt marry too, third Church believe that only unmarried men can focus on the faith, church community and his work as shepard.

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Sorry to nitpick, but that 'Tradition' should have a small 't'. The Church distinguishes between tradition and Tradition and this is a very important differentiation.

Trumble said:

I think you are confusing different 'needs'. If they just needed normal sex they could take off the dog-collar and find a prostitute. The problem is not priests becoming paedophiles because they don't get sex, it's paedophiles becoming priests.

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True words of wisdom.

Regards,
JP.

I understand if Christian Priests wish to practice celibacy. For them it is a way to focus on their faith. I do not understand why the term paedophile and the term priest are always associated with each other. One individual action should not be generalised upon others.

Paedophile is a psychological disorder that develops throughout an individual life based upon environmental factors. This disorder does not develop if you wish to practice celibacy. Otherwise the cure for paedophile would have to be to discontinue practicing celibacy. Like Trumble stated the problem is paedophile becoming priests.

north_malaysian said:

But the Maronite Catholic priests are allowed to marry .. right?

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Latin right catholic priests do not marry, but eastern right catholic priests (including the maronites) may.

Also, if a Lutheran or Anglican pastor wants to convert to catholocism and become a priest, and he is already married, he may be ordained as a latin right priest and still remain married.

ardianto said:

I have read many jokes about unmarried Catholic priests (Father) and nuns. I'm sure those jokes are written by Protestant Christians. But I never found any joke about Protestant Christian that written by Catholic.
I don't understand, why they insult another Christian ?.

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I don't understand either. I have the utmost respect for the work of the Catholic priest at our local parish. The 8 protestant clergy in our community just had a party for him as he was preparing to move to a new assignment and we are all going to miss him.

I also don't understand why people of any faith would insult another, but you see it all the time. Note below:

aadil77 said:

Well this doesn't make sense to me, how can they focus on faith more if they are unmarried? Think about it a MAN with no partner for the rest of his life I can only think of one thing his mind would be focused on more than his faith. I doubt we'd ever hear about gay priests molesting little boys if they'd been allowed to get married.

Just another place where christianity fails again

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AntiKarateKid said:

Unmarried men can focus on faith better? I wonder what the Prophets of the Old Testament were thinking when they got married!

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It needs to be remembered that it has not always been the case that Catholic priests were not allowed to marry. This was something that developed over time during the middle ages. And when it did, it had as much to do with inheritance issues as much as anything spiritual in nature.

Be that as it may, there actually are a couple of good reasons for it. The first is Paul's recommendation that it would be better for people not to marry so that they could focus on working for God, but that if they couldn't avoid lusting after women, then they should go ahead and get married so as not to burn with lust.

But it seems that while Paul never married that Peter did have a wife. I find it impossible to say about any of the rest of the apostles.

Another reason not to marry is that if one is married, then one has an obligation to tend to the needs of one's spouse. Given that a church can pull one in many different directions on its own, having a spouse just adds one more direction in which one is pulled. There is not a married pastor alive who at one time or another hasn't realized that sometimes they just have to say No to the needs of the church in order to serve one's family. That, I believe, is as it should be, but it does mean that sometimes the church gets second best. And as servants of God, that doesn't always sit right. The unmarried pastor, be he Catholic priest or a protestant pastor who just happens to have never married, does not have this issue to deal with. Of course, he also doesn't have someone at home to whom he can unload his burdens. It cuts both ways. And most people in those roles would admit to finding positives and negatives in both scenarios.

As far as the issue of homosexuality or pedaphilia. While it makes big news when it involves a priest, I don't believe that statistics bear out that the incidence is any higher among Catholic clergy than any other group in our society. Indeed the groups with higher than average levels of homosexuality suprising seems to be professional football players. And pedophilia is a major concern in today's school systems. So, the privilege of marriage doesn't seem to be a prevention to those with these prediciltions.

The truth is most priests go about their business never making any news doing just what they understand Christ has called them to do, and they do so without any of the sexual dispositions that have been suggested here.

Actually no Catholic priest is allowed to get married as a priest. However, and here is the issue. Some Catholics can get married and then become priests. You just can't be a catholic priest and then get married. At least thats the case for the Maronites and I'm a Maronite Catholic. Now, it will also depend on where the priest is located. If your a Maronite in the Americas and want to be a priest you can't be married first due to a decision issued by the US College of Catholic Bishops. However, in Lebanon and other Countries they can be married first.
Peace be with you.
gmcbroom