Question for my Catholic Brothers

Discussion in 'Religion & Philosophy' started by HeffDaddy78, Jan 16, 2012.

  1. HeffDaddy78

    HeffDaddy78 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2008
    Messages:
    2,316
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    0
    At mass yesterday we had a priest that is new. What I found interesting is that he kept talking about how him and his wife say the Rosary every night. What religion is it that would allow him to convert to Catholicism as a priest and still retain his marriage? Is it Episcopal?
     
  2. MrConservative

    MrConservative Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2011
    Messages:
    1,681
    Likes Received:
    28
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Yes, and the Church can be somewhat flexible on this issue since celibacy is a discipline and not a doctrine.
     
  3. Anansi the Spider

    Anansi the Spider Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2010
    Messages:
    2,976
    Likes Received:
    80
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Anglican/Episcopalian and Lutheran married clergy have become Catholic priests and remained married.
     
  4. OverDrive

    OverDrive Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    May 21, 2009
    Messages:
    11,990
    Likes Received:
    77
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Paul was giving his personal pastoral wisdom concerning marriage and serving God:

    Matthew 19:12
    For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."

    Paul was the 3rd type of eunuch, a 'god made' eunuch.

    Celibacy avoids many of the cares of this world as in the cares reqd in pleasing a wife & family, but is a 'choice' of the one who would not burn with lust.

    1 Corinthians 7:9
    But if they can't control themselves, they should go ahead and marry. It's better to marry than to burn with lust.

    Celibacy shud be an individual choice and not a reqmt. One can say that priests have that choice, but in fact they are 'forced' into it to be in that position, and sadly many have fallen over time.

    My church in HS had 3 young (in their 30's) Paulist Fathers, who the teens as well as the congregation loved. They could relate to boys going thru puberty, etc. having been there themselves. Years later, after my spending 4 yrs in the mil and also 4 yrs of college, I found out that ALL 3 had left the priesthood--- 2 were married, while one was a prof at Loyola. It was a real shame, and I often wonder how much celibacy played into their decisions..??
     
  5. MrConservative

    MrConservative Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2011
    Messages:
    1,681
    Likes Received:
    28
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Overdrive, once someone has accepted the holy officee of the priesthood, he has fully accepted a celibate life. Paul's logic is sound. Those that marry are going to be concerned of the things which please his wife, and those that choose to remain cellibate, areconcerned with the things which concern God.
     
  6. OverDrive

    OverDrive Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    May 21, 2009
    Messages:
    11,990
    Likes Received:
    77
    Trophy Points:
    48
    But as I said B4,

    The Roman Catholic church will continue to decline with their rigid, outdated interpretation of the scriptures...
     
  7. HeffDaddy78

    HeffDaddy78 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2008
    Messages:
    2,316
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    0
    I would have to disagree. Taking your vows as a Priest, means, in essence, you are married to God, the Church. All other things are immaterial compared to the task of managing your own flock. Just my thought anyway.
     
  8. Blackrook

    Blackrook Banned

    Joined:
    May 8, 2009
    Messages:
    13,914
    Likes Received:
    265
    Trophy Points:
    0
    As a married man, I can honestly say that if I was a priest I would be nearly useless to the Church.

    I would have to be paid a six figure income to support my wife and family.

    Your unmarried priest gets enough money to buy toothpaste and that's about it.

    If the Church sent me to Africa, I would have to bring my wife and children. I would probably have to refuse such a hardship assignment because there would be nowhere for my children to go to school. If I did take the assignment I would need six months lead time to sell my house and get my legal affairs in order.

    An unmarried priest has nothing to hold him down and can be sent anywhere in the world on a moment's notice.

    I would have maybe 60 hours tops to devote to the Church per week if I was a workaholic. Any more than that would be time away from my wife and children.

    An unmarried priest works 24/7.

    The reason we're having a vocation crisis is because of liberalism within the Church. But the younger priests coming in have traditional views and things are going to turn around. The conservative orders are full of people and don't have enough beds.
     
  9. perdidochas

    perdidochas Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2008
    Messages:
    27,293
    Likes Received:
    4,346
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    That, and recently, some Lutherans.
     
  10. perdidochas

    perdidochas Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2008
    Messages:
    27,293
    Likes Received:
    4,346
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    The Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church could allow married men to become priests tomorrow. It's not a scriptural interpretation, it's a matter of church discipline. Some Eastern rites of the Roman Catholic Church (such as the Maronites, Melkites, Coptic) allow married men to become priests, and they are in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. They don't allow priests to marry.
     

Share This Page