You think the Church should allow Priests and Nuns to get married?

[Paidiske]

So one question that comes up is: what are the other logical reasons that we can also suggest to consider on what causes these men (who are supposed to be servants of God) to do such negative things? If it isn't the hormones and chemicals in their bodies going hay-wire because of the natural system that is engineered, then what are other reasons and how can the church solve this?

I've done an awful lot of reading on this, because - of course - it's also a problem in my church. And one of the things that keeps coming up in that reading, but doesn't seem to be getting much traction in these conversations, is power.

Abuse is about power. So what is going on for these priests, that they do this in order to (re)gain some sense of power in their lives? What are the dynamics of power in their lives? How do they deal with stress? What are their strategies for building resilience? And so on. These are the questions that it's bothering me that no one is discussing, because most of the focus is going on the sexual side of the equation.

 

[Dave-W]

Abuse is about power.

Indeed.

I have observed people in power, big power, little power and everything in between. I came up with 2 rules from my observations:

1. If you are in power, do everything you can to stay in power.

2. Having done #1, do what you can to increase your power.

The thirst for power is basically about pride, which is the sin underlying almost every other sin.

Of course no one wants to talk about this side of the issue since we all have our own pride to deal with. Humility is what needs to be embraced, and not just on the surface. It needs to permeate our very souls and thought processes.

 

[Markie Boy]

I think married men are a part of the solution. 1 Timothy Chapter 3 is black and white clear on this. I think it's not about sex - it's about healthy people. God knows this, which he why he inspired that part of scripture.

Also - we should probably not be ordaining 25 year old "kids". The Bible uses the word elder of the Church a lot. Someone is generally not proven enough or mature enough in their 20's.

"Church law states that a MARRIED man should be 35 at the time of ordination as a deacon, and that an unmarried man may be ordained at age 25."

I find the average Catholic can't even comprehend a married priest - that's disturbing as it's how God described things in Scripture. It has become the clinging to "traditions of men" - as it was not taught by Jesus.