A question from a Pentecoastal

[theywhosowintears]

Sorry if I am not supposed to post in here, but I am curious as to why priests are not allowed to marry?

My understanding is that the Levite priests of the old testement were allowed to marry.

Are the reasons mainly theological or practical?

My dad is a pastor... the pentecoastal equivelent of a priest...but married with a family.

Thanks for your answers guys. Love in Christ!

Peace.

 

[Dream]

You are most certaintly welcome here.

Priests in the Western rite Church do not marry for many reasons. One of the biggest reasons is so they give full dedication to their parish. The Church, in essence, is their bride and the parishoners are their children.

 

[Spence06]

Mainy for devotion and spiritual growth. Saint Paul suggests in his letters, that non-married members of society focus more of Godly things and not of this world. As how can one Catholic priest(who has a very very busy schedule), provide for his parish community, when he has to be at his son's soccer game at 12. The Catholic Priest is the spiritual father of an entire community and a full commitment is made to that, family first wouldn't fit to well into it and Saint Paul strongly suggests to others to be like saint Paul and not marry. You should find a helpful chapter 1 Cor. 7.

 

[PioMagnus]

Some of the Eastern Rites of the Catholic Church allow a married priesthood (ex. Melkites). The Latin Rite (what most people think of when they think of Catholicism) has a celibate priesthood, but there are even some exceptions to that rule (like a convert from Anglicanism.)

God bless,
Pio Magnus

 

[theywhosowintears]

Thank you for your answers they are all interesting and solidly grounded.

One more question... what can a married man do to serve God within the church?

I will most likely get married and become a minister... my wife will help me to oversee the church or group that I pastor. I think 1 Timothy 3 shows this to be acceptable also.

Peace.

 

[FullyMT]

what can a married man do to serve God within the church?

Raise your children in the Faith, work in parish ministry. Some more stuff that I can't think of off the top of my head because I'm tired. *yawns*

 

[cindylou]

A married man can become a Deacon and can service the local parish in many capacities. However, a married man does not have to be a Deacon to serve. Their are many, many opportunities for married people in local parishes. Personally, I am very grateful for a celibate priesthood!!

Cindylou

 

[Benedicta00]

Sorry if I am not supposed to post in here, but I am curious as to why priests are not allowed to marry?

My understanding is that the Levite priests of the old testement were allowed to marry.

Are the reasons mainly theological or practical?

My dad is a pastor... the pentecoastal equivelent of a priest...but married with a family.

Thanks for your answers guys. Love in Christ!

Peace.

A protestant pastor and a priest are not the same. Priest can be married when they enter (not get married after the fact) in the eastern rite churches but in the Latin Church it isn’t doctrine that they can’t, it is a matter of a rule that they can’t. The Church deems celibacy as St. Paul said, “it is better not to marry.” It is for spiritual and practical reasons, not a matter of theology.

 

[Benedicta00]

Thank you for your answers they are all interesting and solidly grounded.

One more question... what can a married man do to serve God within the church?

I will most likely get married and become a minister... my wife will help me to oversee the church or group that I pastor. I think 1 Timothy 3 shows this to be acceptable also.

Peace.

They can, but the Latin Church chooses not to because it would make the job of a priest more difficult and marriage and holy orders are vocations, (a our vocation in life is our path to sanctity and holiness) each one distinct with it’s own challenges. It just isn’t that easy to blend them both for you can’t give yourself 100 % to each and each calls for a 100%.

That same can be said for working mothers, yes a mother can work out side the home but the kids and husband do have to give up something and the mother is stressed out more not less, think of it in those terms, it just isn’t best, that is why they do not marry but it isn’t because they can’t, they can but choose not to.

The parish is the family of a priest; he would not be able to serve his family to the best of his ability if he also had a domestic family. That is just the bottom line. The Church is being honest, that’s all. You can not realistically devote yourself to two families 100%, you can not split yourself up in two to be there for them both as you should.

 

[Carrye]

Thank you for your answers they are all interesting and solidly grounded.

There's more where that came from. Please continue to ask your questions.

 

[Epiphanygirl]

They can, but the Latin Church chooses not to because it would make the job of a priest more difficult and marriage and holy orders are vocations, (a our vocation in life is our path to sanctity and holiness) each one distinct with it’s own challenges. It just isn’t that easy to blend them both for you can’t give yourself 100 % to each and each calls for a 100%.

That same can be said for working mothers, yes a mother can work out side the home but the kids and husband do have to give up something and the mother is stressed out more not less, think of it in those terms, it just isn’t best, that is why they do not marry but it isn’t because they can’t, they can but choose not to.

The parish is the family of a priest; he would not be able to serve his family to the best of his ability if he also had a domestic family. That is just the bottom line. The Church is being honest, that’s all. You can not realistically devote yourself to two families 100%, you can not split yourself up in two to be there for them both as you should.

Yep, and as many Christian denominations have dropped marriage as a Sacrament,we still have it.
Some outside of the Catholic faith do not realize that our Priests not only say Mass on Sunday, but everyday! This is on top of all the other functions he must and does perform. It leaves very little time for a wife and children, more so than non-Catholic Pastors.

 

[ThereseOfLisieux]

Hi theywhosowintears,

Please feel free to ask any question you have. We are glad to answer.

Peace of Christ

Therese

 

[Spotty]

A lot of the time, Protestants seem to think in an either/or good/bad mindset. I don't know if that's how you approached this topic with regards to how Catholics view it, but regardless...

Marriage is a good/better issue. It is good to be married. It is better to remain single. Remember Christ said these words, not just Paul. This has a heavy influence in the Scriptures.

With regards to 1 Timothy 3, the qualification here is not that they have to be married, but that if they are married, that they have only been married one time. Again, it would be better for them not to marry at all. But given the Jewish background at the time, many people, included Peter were married. Though Christ preferred if they remained single, so as to focus fully on the Church of God which is our first priority. It makes the most sense, actually.

While a married minister may be able to help a parishoner more in the area of maritial advice, the benefits don't compare to a single minister who is able to fully focus on his parish in all areas of advice and leadership.

-Spotty

 

[theywhosowintears]

sweet... I will think of a few more Q's for you guys some time... feel free to ask me anything if you like... or post it in charismatic/pentecoastal I will probably see it there.

Peace.