The New Reformation - Cellibasy

[EireEmerald]

So as you know there are more than enough Catholics and priests and bishops who are tired of this ridiculous restrait on priests. Priests should be allowed to marry, everyone knows it, even the pope, what do you guys think?

[Tacitursa]

So as you know there are more than enough Catholics and priests and bishops who are tired of this ridiculous restrait on priests. Priests should be allowed to marry, everyone knows it, even the pope, what do you guys think?

Im pretty sure marrying young boys is illegal

[EireEmerald]

Im pretty sure marrying young boys is illegal

no seriously, if anything that shows cellibasy should be kicked.

[Maverick]

Im pretty sure marrying young boys is illegal

no seriously, if anything that shows cellibasy should be kicked.

"I have taken my holy vows but I can be celibate no longer... perhaps I will find a nice woman and, no, no I will have sex with young boys, it's the only way".

So naive...

Emerald, priests are in a position of authority over children and pedophiles know this.

[germ14]

So as you know there are more than enough Catholics and priests and bishops who are tired of this ridiculous restrait on priests. Priests should be allowed to marry, everyone knows it, even the pope, what do you guys think?

There is nothing biblical that suggests priests should be celibate; imo its just being overly legalistic.

[Tiberius Tosi]

They should go back to the old rule where you can marry before becoming a priest but not after at the least, but ideally just make marriage allowed for priests. I don't see why a person is allowed to be a protestant married priest, convert to Catholicism and still be allowed to be married; the old way was much better if you ask me.

[Dr Zoidberg]

I've always found it amusing that a man who can't marry, nor have sex, is someone who is apparently qualified to give advice on both topics...

[gambit]

They're the ones who have to lead the religious horde, and be role models for everyone else. I'm not a religious person but by god if anyone deserves some booty its those guys.

[Monarchist]

A person can know about sexual morality and be a virgin, you know. I am not entirely sure about this Catholic reform movement regarding marriage of priests. Orthodox tradition is to allow married priests, but I was never convinced by it. In my opinion, religious vows should preclude marriage and sex so that the man in question can focus entirely on God. To sit, alone, in a dark room with prayer and guidance is just fine without some woman nagging you to clean the car.

Of course, all the Orthodox married priests I hear seem to be just as wise.

[Mega Tortas de Bodemloze]

So as you know there are more than enough Catholics and priests and bishops who are tired of this ridiculous restrait on priests. Priests should be allowed to marry, everyone knows it, even the pope, what do you guys think?

If given the option....I think some would adopt for marital union and some would still select the Devinne embrace of celibacy. However the freedom of choice and expression {to a certain extent} would alleviate at least some of the unpleasant behavioral manifestations that occur under the constraints of pure celibacy.

In short, ya give the option of dating and marriage. But dat still leaves Gay priests out in the cold..They would still have to be underground about who they are...

[Monarchist]

In short, ya give the option of dating and marriage. But dat still leaves Gay priests out in the cold..

And? Gay sex is forbidden anyway. We should just bear our cross and be celibate. It isn't that difficult, really.

[Admiral Piett]

A person can know about sexual morality and be a virgin, you know. I am not entirely sure about this Catholic reform movement regarding marriage of priests. Orthodox tradition is to allow married priests, but I was never convinced by it. In my opinion, religious vows should preclude marriage and sex so that the man in question can focus entirely on God. To sit, alone, in a dark room with prayer and guidance is just fine without some woman nagging you to clean the car.

Of course, all the Orthodox married priests I hear seem to be just as wise.

Or you end up with these massively sexually repressed guys that end up touching kids as their only enjoyment. People need an outlet for their natural built-in sex drives. It's not like being married makes you any less competent as a man of god. Hell, if anything, it makes you MORE competent as you've always got a second opinion and other ways of input.

[Arch-hereticK]

Priests take more than enough of our money, time and patience: taking our women too is a step too far.

[S.L.I.G]

So as you know there are more than enough Catholics and priests and bishops who are tired of this ridiculous restrait on priests. Priests should be allowed to marry, everyone knows it, even the pope, what do you guys think?

Yeah it should be removed. IIRC it was Augustine's idea that priests should be celibate as they have to live to a higher moral standard [correct me if im wrong?], and while I agree with that in principle...obviously in practice- and I think this goes for almost every case where humans are expected to do the right thing- it just doesn't work out. Pedophiles are only a problem in the Catholic Church because the Priests cant get any tail.

Edit: Honestly though, I think Catholics should just come over to the Protestant view point towards clergy anyways. Not some higher religious order with uh, conclusive knowledge on the workings of God, but merely men of society who are learned in the bible and attempt to teach it to you. Ministers aren't meant to be you know, authoritative, just helpful guides. Though I guess that change in view point as to the purpose and meaning of the clergy has massive implications [the pope, and probably the reasoning on celibacy, etc].

[Monarchist]

Ministers aren't meant to be you know, authoritative, just helpful guides. Though I guess that change in view point as to the purpose and meaning of the clergy has massive implications [the pope, and probably the reasoning on celibacy, etc].

This is one of the big reasons why I dislike most branches of Protestantism. Preachers are just made out to be friendly guides and teachers. Catholics and Orthodox traditionally see priests as iron-fisted dogmatic authority figures who guide the flock, but with doctrinal force. I have an intense dislike of the lovey-dovey Protestant view that the minister should just be a friend and doe-eyed companion to his congregation. Priests, deacons, archdeacons, bishops, archbishops, and monks must be above the rest so that they maintain their authority and father-like figure. To change to the Protestant view would mean death, in my opinion.

[DekuTrash]

Where the heck did the celibacy thing come from? Can't recall anything in the Bible strictly Xing it out.

[Tiberius Tosi]

Where the heck did the celibacy thing come from? Can't recall anything in the Bible strictly Xing it out.

It isn't prohibited by the Bible. The Catholic Church (I don't know much about Orthodoxy rules so I cannot speak for them) banned it over time (rather slowly) going through phases of completely allowing marriage, only allowing marriage before priesthood and not allowing someone to get married after becomming a priest (but if married before, the marriage holds), but in the 12th century I believe there was a shift to the "married to God" (or Jesus or the Church) concept came about in which since the priests are the average persons' direct link to God, all their love should be devoted to God. However the rule was kind of disregarded for a long time, however slowly but surely the trend towards unmarried priests took its seat as the norm and now is almost always the case.

There are rare special cases in which a priest can appeal to be allowed to marry. Additionally, deacons are allowed to be married as are converted anglican or protestant priests who were married prior to conversion to Catholicism.

[germ14]

Where the heck did the celibacy thing come from? Can't recall anything in the Bible strictly Xing it out.

My point exactly

[S.L.I.G]

This is one of the big reasons why I dislike most branches of Protestantism. Preachers are just made out to be friendly guides and teachers. Catholics and Orthodox traditionally see priests as iron-fisted dogmatic authority figures who guide the flock, but with doctrinal force. I have an intense dislike of the lovey-dovey Protestant view that the minister should just be a friend and doe-eyed companion to his congregation. Priests, deacons, archdeacons, bishops, archbishops, and monks must be above the rest so that they maintain their authority and father-like figure. To change to the Protestant view would mean death, in my opinion.

Well obviously your exaggerating seeing as how Protestantism is the fastest growing sect of Christianity, with the most vibrant zeal, and we are all very much alive. o.O

[blackwatersix]

Well obviously your exaggerating seeing as how Protestantism is the fastest growing sect of Christianity, with the most vibrant zeal, and we are all very much alive. o.O

Yeah, well. To each his own. I fully support Winterlight's views on dogmatic authority, since in my opinion protestant churches in general are more susceptible to schisms because of the lack of a single centralized teaching which leads to confusion. I believe that religion is not a democracy, dogma is dogma and shouldn't be changed by the flock. I've heard of Protestant churches' deacons and stuff firing pastors whose politics and interpretations don't jive with theirs. It's a preposterous case of the sheep leading the shepherd.

Anyway, I however agree with reform. It is evidently not against the teachings of the Church to have married priests, so why not have them. I agree that the reason we have so many cases of priests being led into great depths of sexual depravity is the lack of a legitimate outlet for sex. Let the vow of Celibacy be optional.

I also think that the removal of the vow of celibacy would make it attractive for a lot of bright, young men called to God's service to become priests. One common reason that my friends who wanted to become priests left the seminary is the loneliness. If they are allowed to have a fulfilling relationship with a woman while being a servant of God it would be easier to answer God's calling.