Do you think that Catholic priests should be allowed to get married

[paarsurrey]

Do you think that Catholic priests should be allowed to get married?

No harm.
After all Jesus never put such restrictions on the priests.
It was Paul and Church who did it.

Regards

 

[Amechania]

Of course they should be allowed to marry. Whether they ought to marry or not is another question. Often a priest will say I am married, to the Church.

Priests often act as marriage counselors, and guide engaged couples in the spiritual and practical aspects of married life prior to their nuptials. This would seem to be a little out of their network, but, wtf, I give advice to married couples all the time and I'm divorced.

 

[Sir Doom]

I voted other: leave it up to the Catholic Church.

This here exactly^

 

[ZooGirl02]

No, I believe that the discipline of celibacy for Roman Catholic (Latin Rite) clergy should remain. Keep in mind, however, that many Eastern Rite Catholics do allow priests to marry. Also, one needs to keep in mind that the celibacy thing is a discipline which means it can change in the future.

 

[Father Heathen]

I want to be a mime, but I also want to be allowed to talk and make noises during my performance, so do you think they should change the way mimes traditionally perform?

 

[Estro Felino]

I want to be a mime, but I also want to be allowed to talk and make noises during my performance, so do you think they should change the way mimes traditionally perform?

The problem is that chastity is seen by the Catholic Church as a virtue. Actually it is not a virtue, but a tragedy. Because a person who is 40 years old and is still a virgin, is not normal. I think that chastity is something to be ashamed of.

 

[Quintessence]

The problem is that chastity is seen by the Catholic Church as a virtue. Actually it is not a virtue, but a tragedy. Because a person who is 40 years old and is still a virgin, is not normal. I think that chastity is something to be ashamed of.

Why is it shameful? What's wrong with being chaste, or perhaps asexual? What's wrong with not being interested in $#@%ing people?

 

[Estro Felino]

Why is it shameful? What's wrong with being chaste, or perhaps asexual? What's wrong with not being interested in $#@%ing people?

Well...I understand that in the Anglo-Saxon world everyone is beautiful, so they strongly feel attracted to one another. That's why the chances to have sex are so many, that chastity becomes something rare- and rarity becomes a virtue.

In my cultural background, full of ugly people, people do not feel attracted to each other...(or at least they pretend to) so chastity is very common (but it is unwilling). And a regular sexual life is a difficult goal to achieve.
That's why I see chastity as something awful...it brings bad luck.

Please, do respect my view. This was said by an excellent Italian anthropologist too.

 

[Father Heathen]

The problem is that chastity is seen by the Catholic Church as a virtue. Actually it is not a virtue, but a tragedy. Because a person who is 40 years old and is still a virgin, is not normal. I think that chastity is something to be ashamed of.

Priesthood and church attendance are both optional. No one is forcing anyone to become priests or to be members of the church. Sure, the views, rules, etc. are ridiculous and nonsensical, but they're also a good reason for those who think so not to become clergy or even join/stay with the church.

 

[Father Heathen]

Well...I understand that in the Anglo-Saxon world everyone is beautiful, so they strongly feel attracted to one another. That's why the chances to have sex are so many, that chastity becomes something rare- and rarity becomes a virtue.

In my cultural background, full of ugly people, people do not feel attracted to each other...(or at least they pretend to) so chastity is very common (but it is unwilling). And a regular sexual life is a difficult goal to achieve.
That's why I see chastity as something awful...it brings bad luck.

Please, do respect my view. This was said by an excellent Italian anthropologist too.

It's hard to respect something that's a rather narrow and juvenile point of view.

 

[ChristineES]

The problem is that chastity is seen by the Catholic Church as a virtue. Actually it is not a virtue, but a tragedy. Because a person who is 40 years old and is still a virgin, is not normal. I think that chastity is something to be ashamed of.

I totally disagree. Some people have a belief of not having sex before marriage, and they never marry, because they don't want to. Sex is not a sin yet it is also not a tragedy (in my opinion) to never have sex. It is a personal choice.

Why would chastity be something to be ashamed of?

 

[Estro Felino]

Priesthood and church attendance are both optional. No one is forcing anyone to become priests or to be members of the church. Sure, the views, rules, etc. are ridiculous and nonsensical, but they're also a good reason for those who think so not to become clergy or even join/stay with the church.

Priests are employees. From a juridic point of view, you can ask a priest to do what is inherent to the Ecclesiastical activities (masses, ceremonies, etc etc).
But chastity is not something inherent.
Actually the prohibition to get married derives from the vow of chastity.
Given that they are obliged to respect the vow of chastity, they cannot get married.
I think that the vows of poverty and obedience are inherent to Christianity. Chastity is not.

 

[Estro Felino]

I totally disagree. Some people have a belief of not having sex before marriage, and they never marry, because they don't want to. Sex is not a sin yet it is also not a tragedy (in my opinion) to never have sex. It is a personal choice.

Why would chastity be something to be ashamed of?

You must come from a country where everyone has a regular sexual life. That's why you see chastity as something beautiful. Because rare things are admired.

I come from a country where unwilling chastity is the rule

 

[Father Heathen]

Priests are employees.

"Employee" implies that they merely perform their services solely for the sake of receiving payment. I thought priests served god out of their own sense of duty, conviction, and devotion?

From a juridic point of view, you can ask a priest to do what is inherent to the Ecclesiastical activities (masses, ceremonies, etc etc).
But chastity is not something inherent.
Actually the prohibition to get married derives from the vow of chastity.
Given that they are obliged to respect the vow of chastity, they cannot get married.
I think that the vows of poverty and obedience are inherent to Christianity. Chastity is not.

If someone disagrees with the requirements then perhaps they should reconsider joining the priesthood? Why would you desire and choose a job that you felt had intolerable policies and working conditions? I agree that it's a pretty **** job, but I also acknowledge that it's completely voluntary.

 

[Father Heathen]

You must come from a country where everyone has a regular sexual life. That's why you see chastity as something beautiful. Because rare things are admired.

I come from a country where unwilling chastity is the rule

I know this is going to sound like a patronizing and rhetorical question, but it's sincerely not intended to be; what is your age?

 

[Estro Felino]

I know this is going to sound like a patronizing and rhetorical question, but it's sincerely not intended to be; what is your age?

I'm 28.
I just think that beauty plays a key role in people's sexual life

 

[sojourner]

Priests are employees. From a juridic point of view, you can ask a priest to do what is inherent to the Ecclesiastical activities (masses, ceremonies, etc etc).
But chastity is not something inherent.
Actually the prohibition to get married derives from the vow of chastity.
Given that they are obliged to respect the vow of chastity, they cannot get married.
I think that the vows of poverty and obedience are inherent to Christianity. Chastity is not.

No. They're not employees.

The vow of poverty is supposed to have begun with Francis of Assisi.

 

[Father Heathen]

I'm 28.
I just think that beauty is something determinant in the sexual life of people.

I think you're making some rather sweeping generalizations/presumptions regarding cultures, sexuality, and the notion of beauty.

 

[Quintessence]

Well...I understand that in the Anglo-Saxon world everyone is beautiful, so they strongly feel attracted to one another. That's why the chances to have sex are so many, that chastity becomes something rare- and rarity becomes a virtue.

I don't agree with how you're painting "Anglo-Saxon" culture, but setting that aside, how does the rarity of something relate to it's virtue? In what way does a thing being common or uncommon impact whether or not something is a virtue? Aren't virtues the values a person wishes to uphold the character they wish to cultivate in their lives?

Secondarily, ideas about virtue may not have much to do with a person's sexuality. It is more of a matter of personal preference or emotional need than a virtue someone wishes to cultivate as part of one's character. Not everyone wants or cares about having an active sex life, for whatever reason, and I think it is unnecessarily judgmental to presume a person who is chaste or asexual is deficient somehow because of that preference.

 

[paarsurrey]

Do you think that Catholic priests should be allowed to get married?

No harm.
After all Jesus never put such restrictions on the priests.
It was Paul and Church who did it.
I think it is one reason that the Church priests so often get involved in sexual abuse and we read it in the news.
Jesus being from the off-spring of Abraham would be happy if the priests get married.

Regards