Like most of Catholics i'm against celibacy, even the Bible speaks against it. If a priest had a loving family people would believe in what he says in his homilies. Priests are human-beings and they also need intimacy, love and sex.

well! i think this is good, becouse you can get spiritual experience, what can to help you in the future, in your life! this hothing becouse you choose whis yourself how to be and what to do! you not dipend from nobody except god!

Imo its unhealthy and goes against all natural instincts we still have..........

Mzzls

Pumpernikiel wrote:

Like most of Catholics i'm against celibacy, even the Bible speaks against it. If a priest had a loving family people would believe in what he says in his homilies. Priests are human-beings and they also need intimacy, love and sex.

a step from the New Testament allows bishops to marry

Marco85 wrote:

Pumpernikiel wrote: Like most of Catholics i'm against celibacy, even the Bible speaks against it. If a priest had a loving family people would believe in what he says in his homilies. Priests are human-beings and they also need intimacy, love and sex. a step from the New Testament allows bishops to marry

Not only allows it says they should do it

Greg3001 wrote:

I think celibacy should be optional. The Roman Catholic Church has developed a discipline where priests are celibate, though priests in Eastern Catholic Churches and those received from the Anglican or Episcopal church and who are married are allowed to remain so. The discipline of celibacy developed from around the 11th century onwards to stop priests passing on church property to their children. It is certainly not a matter that goes to the core of the Christian faith as such. Most Christian denominations allow their clergy to marry and I would agree that being in a loving marriage and expressing sexuality in a married life is a healthier state to be in than forced celibacy. Most religions also allow religious leaders to marry as well. As for clerical sex abuse, the evidence is a bit unclear. A lot of people blame celibacy on child sex abuse. However, sex abuse has also occured in churches or religious cults where the abuser is married and may have children, so celibacy in itself may not be the problem. I certainly think an atmosphere of guilt and repression surrounding sex, which certainly existed in Catholicism prior to Vatican II (and still does in some places) may be a big part of the problem, but it seems more to be a mixture of personal immaturity, clericalism, and also pedophiles and abusive priests abusing their trust and power which are equally responsible. In any case, I think married clergy would be better able to relate to people as they today, especially in reaching out pastorally to families who have to struggle with raising children, work, sexual intimacy, family planning, and other matters.

BEST ANSWER EVER. Sorry, I don't usually shout, but these are all valid points ~ I agree with most of them, but I would also like to add: if God is the God of love, how can one express their love if they are not in a relationship? ...and if they weren't so afraid of women, they could stop meddling with vaginal politics >.> I just thought I'd slip that in there. Celibacy doesn't really lead into pedophilia but when one is celibate it really doesn't give them the right to abuse children...I don't think that's what Jesus meant when He said suffer the little children come unto me ~~ (I think if I remember that ---yay George Carlin)

I guess I'll have the break the trend of those who are against celibacy. I am in favor of it.

Research has showed that celibacy is not the cause of child abuse by clergymen. Rather, the abuse scandal is a result of the sexual revolution in the 60's and 70's and Catholic seminaries that were rather poor in those years. The Vatican has shut this down..visited all seminaries and revised the priestly formation program to strengthen the preparation of priest. over 95% of the 2002 scandals were cases that came up from the 70's and 80's, and these scandals rarely happen now. The problem is that there were a few bad bishops who decided to cover up these problems form years back. (this research was funded by the United States Council of Catholic Bishops and costs them 1.5 million..it is certainly of great concern to them these days and they are fixing it.) For those who blame celibacy for child abuse this is absurd. It is terrible logic. The VAST majority..i repeat the VAST MAJORITY of child abuse happens by husbands, uncles, coaches etc (i'm not trying to excuse the priests who committed this disgusting sin)...but by the logic of those who claim its celibacy that causes child abuse..I guess we can also say that married men is the reason for child abuse. Well trained and educated priest are Holy..and self controlling..this is the goal. Having sex will not prevent the problem of pedophilia which actually developed at a young age..so psychology tells us..it isn't because priests are abstinent.

Now, for those of us that are christians..isn't sacrifice a part of our lives? or have we forgotten that? this is the reason for priests being celibate in the Latin Rite. With the very small percentage of priests in the western hemisphere and the massive number of Catholics it would be impossible to minster the sacraments to all these people if they were to have a family of their own. They sacrifice this "good" of marriage for the sake of the greater community of believers. Being a father and a husband is a full time job. He gives this up to be the "father" of his spiritual family..his parish..his people..readily available for the sacraments at all hours of the day throughout the year (late night hospital calls..early morning masses..missionary work etc) In a spiritual sense..a priest does indeed marry..he marries the church (for non catholics this may seem absurd). He is united with the entire body of Christ throughout the world, and he devotes his entire life to the service of her (the church).

Paul himeself was celibate..and Jesus as well and most of the early church martyrs and saints. Paul explicitly states over and over that celibacy is preferred for those that can handle it. Obviously priesthood is not for everyone..it is a sacred calling..a special vocation..and the Holy Spirit guides them with the gift of self control. This hasn't always been obvious sense there are so many scandals but like i said earlier..the seminary was very poorly run and these sex offender priests should have never been ordained in the first place.

1 Cor 7:8 "To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain single as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion"

7:27"Are you free from a wife? Do not seek marriage. . . those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. . . . The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord; but the married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman or girl is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please her husband" (here he is speaking of those with a vocation and a sacred calling to the priesthood.)

7:38 He who marries "does well; and he who refrains from marriage will do better"

I'll have to agree with AFsemLA

AFsemLA wrote:

I guess I'll have the break the trend of those who are against celibacy. I am in favor of it. Research has showed that celibacy is not the cause of child abuse by clergymen. Rather, the abuse scandal is a result of the sexual revolution in the 60's and 70's and Catholic seminaries that were rather poor in those years. The Vatican has shut this down..visited all seminaries and revised the priestly formation program to strengthen the preparation of priest. over 95% of the 2002 scandals were cases that came up from the 70's and 80's, and these scandals rarely happen now. The problem is that there were a few bad bishops who decided to cover up these problems form years back. (this research was funded by the United States Council of Catholic Bishops and costs them 1.5 million..it is certainly of great concern to them these days and they are fixing it.) For those who blame celibacy for child abuse this is absurd. It is terrible logic. The VAST majority..i repeat the VAST MAJORITY of child abuse happens by husbands, uncles, coaches etc (i'm not trying to excuse the priests who committed this disgusting sin)...but by the logic of those who claim its celibacy that causes child abuse..I guess we can also say that married men is the reason for child abuse. Well trained and educated priest are Holy..and self controlling..this is the goal. Having sex will not prevent the problem of pedophilia which actually developed at a young age..so psychology tells us..it isn't because priests are abstinent. Now, for those of us that are christians..isn't sacrifice a part of our lives? or have we forgotten that? this is the reason for priests being celibate in the Latin Rite. With the very small percentage of priests in the western hemisphere and the massive number of Catholics it would be impossible to minster the sacraments to all these people if they were to have a family of their own. They sacrifice this "good" of marriage for the sake of the greater community of believers. Being a father and a husband is a full time job. He gives this up to be the "father" of his spiritual family..his parish..his people..readily available for the sacraments at all hours of the day throughout the year (late night hospital calls..early morning masses..missionary work etc) In a spiritual sense..a priest does indeed marry..he marries the church (for non catholics this may seem absurd). He is united with the entire body of Christ throughout the world, and he devotes his entire life to the service of her (the church). Paul himeself was celibate..and Jesus as well and most of the early church martyrs and saints. Paul explicitly states over and over that celibacy is preferred for those that can handle it. Obviously priesthood is not for everyone..it is a sacred calling..a special vocation..and the Holy Spirit guides them with the gift of self control. This hasn't always been obvious sense there are so many scandals but like i said earlier..the seminary was very poorly run and these sex offender priests should have never been ordained in the first place. 1 Cor 7:8 "To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain single as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion" 7:27"Are you free from a wife? Do not seek marriage. . . those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. . . . The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord; but the married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman or girl is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please her husband" (here he is speaking of those with a vocation and a sacred calling to the priesthood.) 7:38 He who marries "does well; and he who refrains from marriage will do better"

The man who finds a wife finds a treasure and receives favor from the LORD .

Proverbs 18:22
Because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.

The husband should not deprive his wife of sexual intimacy, which is her right as a married woman, nor should the wife deprive her husband. . . I wish everyone could get along without marrying, just as I do. But we are not all the same. God gives some the gift of marriage, and to others he gives the gift of singleness.

Now I say to those who aren't married and to widows -- it's better to stay unmarried, just as I am. But if they can't control themselves, they should go ahead and marry. It's better to marry than to burn with lust.

1 Corinthians 7:2-3, 7-9
Basically we're almost arguing the same point, so really the answer in this case would be: if it is God's law that you shall be celibate for these matters (of priesthood) then yes, be celibate but as Paul had opined, singlehood isn't for everyone, marriage isn't for everyone, but it is best to do things that will help control sinful impulses.
and to answer the second question that was actually asked: would it not be better for them to have a inner insight about family instead of talking about it without experience ~ these are matters of opinion not just a I'm pro or I'm against issue.

"and to answer the second question that was actually asked: would it not be better for them to have a inner insight about family instead of talking about it without experience ~ these are matters of opinion not just a I'm pro or I'm against issue"


Well here's the thing. Priest may do marriage prep for a couple usually a year (usually shorter) before the wedding and he councils them in matters of the SACRAMENT. The Sacrament of Matrimony has certain things that much be discussed with the couple in order for it to be valid. Ex: both must desire to commit a lifelong relationship through thick and thin, both must be 100% willing to marry each other with no doubt, etc. I'm sure NFP is discussed in marriage prep and alllll that good lovely raising your children in the faith kind of stuff.

Most parishes have laity for marriage COUNSELING. not marriage prep and it is not done by the priest. Now, if one of the parents are struggling with something and doesn't know why..well then feel free to go to some psychologist and all that stuff..the only thing the Church requires is that if it concerns the SACRAMENT of matrimony..it needs to go to the priest. He is the one who went to school and knows his theology on this stuff.