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Okay here's one for the Catholics- specifically the Catholic ladies (not trying to discriminate but I'd really like the perspective from Catholics just because it is a little more personal to them).
First, what is your position on married men becoming priests?
Second, if they do allow married men to go back to being priests, how many women would be okay if after they got married, their husbands decided to become priests?
Third, would you ever marry someone considering becoming a priest or deacon after you both were married?
I tread lightly around this issue. Celibacy is a long-standing dicsipline of the Church, and there are many good things to say about it. St. Paul encouraged celibacy among as many believers as possible (provided that they were not already married) asserting that those who are married are preoccupied with pleasing their spouses, but those who are not married can focus their attention on the Lord. He also makes several other good arguments in the 1st letter to the Corinthians.
Also, if a married man were to be ordained, he would have to follow all the teachings of the Church with regard to fertility, which means that the parish would be responsible for his umpteen children.
On a higher plane of thought, the sacraments are effecacious signs, instituted by Christ to give grace. The Priesthood is meant to infuse the divine life of Christ into the Church, which is his Bride. Christ Jesus is the only priest, eternally speaking, but the ordained priest participates in his priestly mission by virtue of his ordination. The Priest's primary function is to offer sacrifice; that is the nature of his office. Christ offered himself completely for the life of the world, giving himself over to death for the sake of his Bride. (There is no evidence that Jesus had single human bride, the DaVinci Code to the contrary notwithstanding.) The ordained priest can, through celibacy, participate in the his sacrifice "filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the Church" (Col 1:24). Christ himself points out that some are called to celibacy (see Matthew 19). That is not a natural calling, but a supernatural one. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit can anyone hope to proceed along that road, but "all things are possible with God," and it is a testament to his power that so many of his priests should live celibate lives. Everyone talks about the priests who were abusive, but no one remembers that that was less than 1% of all the priests who served during that time period. God has worked a miracles in our very midst, and we don't even recognize it when we see it.
In an age when the Church is in desperate need of an infusion of divine grace, I am reluctant to remove such a powerful tool and testament, but I will defer to the magisterium, because the Christ has promised that the Holy Spirit will protect his Church and "the gates of the netherworld will not prevail against it." If the Sacred Teaching office of the Church decides to begin ordaining married men, I will accept its decision.
Sorry I took up so much space. I am currently discerning my vocation, but the Lord hasn't made it clear yet. Please pray for me.
As a guy who's baptised Catholic, my own personal view is that I have no problem with married men becoming priests, nor priests marrying. In fact for many many years after Catholicism's founding priests were allowed to be married. Since the Anglican faith, which is not terribly different to the Catholic faith, allows both married priests and women priests, I cannot see why Catholicism can't bring itself to do the same.
Recently I met someone who 7 years ago was a Catholic Marist brother at my High School. I was surprised to learn that he left being a Brother, because he fell in love and wanted to get married (celebacy being something they have in common with Priests. I should also point out that this person had been a Marist Brother for just over 40 years). He is still every bit the same person he used to be, however he is just no longer a Brother and is happily married. It made me wonder why, since we are supposedly all God's creatures, why those who are most devout to him are expected to deny themselves of one of his greatest gifts...
Catholics can be quite adverse to changes, yet during the 60's some major upheavals of rules and traditions took place, and Catholics remained Catholic, so its not like it can't happen. So long as the Pope allows it, all others would most likely accept it (as happened with the Vatican I reforms).
Here are my thoughts: I'm not a strict Catholic, my mother just raised me in the Catholic faith. I don't follow any religion really, but I do have a pretty good understanding of Catholicism.
First- I'm of the mind a married man should be able to become a priest. Just because he loves a woman does not condemn him- I believe that even if he's unmarried, he can't dedicate his whole life to 'God'. In fact, marriage is a custom celebrated by all religions, so why should a man who upholds a religious tradition be discriminated against.
Second- being a priest is seen to be a very noble calling. I find it hard to say whether I'd be okay with my husband going to become a priest, because neither he or I are religious at all, and it's too hard to imagine us ever being so. But I have a feeling many women in the catholic faith would be against it- from what I've experienced, Catholics don't like change, and rules and traditions stay that way. No questions.
Thirdly- if my partner said to me "I want to become a prIest/deacon after we're married", I'd be calling off the wedding and getting him fitted with a straight jacket. He'd rather shoot himself than follow any religion.
I am too trying to weigh my own vocation... that is part of the reason why I asked in the way that I did. I feel that scripture is referring directly to me when it says that it is not good for a man to be alone, AND I feel a calling to do great things for the church.
I know I should not become a priest because I cannot find a bride, but rather a sense of calling and vocation, but I have had a sense of calling longer than I have been Catholic. And I still cannot find a bride.
I think that married men should be allowed to be priests and also think that women should be allowed too.
(btw im catholic )
All I expect from a Catholic priest is to be poor, celibate, a man, and a non-child-molester. Is that so hard to ask?
