Discussions
Should Catholic Priests be Allowed to Marry ?
Posted by gerryPlanetEarth • 10/01/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: child_molestation
The Catholics have spent well over a Billion Dollars settling with victims who were sexually abused as children by Catholic Priests...
There seems to be no end to this madness...Case in point...Bishop Raymond Lahey has been released on bail shortly after arriving at an Ottawa police station to face charges of possessing and importing child pornography, Thursday afternoon...A Canada-wide arrest warrant had been issued for Lahey, 69, who brokered a $15-million settlement for victims of sexual abuse by priests in Nova Scotia.
news.ca.msn.com/canada/cbc-article.aspx?cp-documentid=22019595
Should Catholic Priests and Nuns be allowed to marry ?
User Comments
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yea!! to the Nuns. but it might not change anything. Gayism may already be dominant-
What do you mean by "Gayism"? -
Well a lot of priest are already gay ( subject to opinion ) and relating to the origin of this discussion, marriage may not necessarily be the solution to this problem. They wouldn't be allowed to get married to children anyway. Gayism is a word I just made up lol!
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So you're thinking that men who are sexually attracted to little boys would become heterosexual if only they weren't precluded from...err...I mean, hadn't voluntarily chosen a vocation that precludes them from...marriage?
Any stats on how many married pedophiles are out there?-
Perhaps a more vital question would be how many Rabbis or Priests of Religions that are allowed to marry have been convicted of sexually abusing children ?
A Billion Dollars would certainly feed a lot of humans facing starvation on this Planet... -
Why, I wonder, do you think that would be a more pertinent figure than school teachers or coaches or any other sector of society who is allowed to marry?
In any case, the rate of molestation by Protestant ministers is at least as high, and they are permitted to marry. They simply don't get the press coverage and multi-million-dollar lawsuits because there are more than 10,000 Protestant sects whereas the Catholic church is a single world-wide institution. -
Sex abuse rife in other religions, says Vatican
Excerpt:
The statement, read out by Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Vatican's permanent observer to the UN, defended its record by claiming that "available research" showed that only 1.5%-5% of Catholic clergy were involved in child sex abuse.
He also quoted statistics from the Christian Scientist Monitor newspaper to show that most US churches being hit by child sex abuse allegations were Protestant and that sexual abuse within Jewish communities was common.
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/28/sex-abuse-religion-vatican
In fact pedofilia spans all religions. For example: The Prophet Muhammed and married a 6-year old girl: Aisha. He had sex with her when she was 9. This is all written in the Quran. -
Always brace myself for well intentioned long post when I see that puppy! -
I'm not gonna let u do it again -
hope ur battery dies out
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this is very complex, as you know sexual abuse is not about being straight or gay, it is about pedophelia and this has nothing to do with homosexuality. I don't think it is just a catholic problem but also a Buddhist and Hindu problem as well.
There needs to be accountability of all faiths, greater transparency and more people with the courage to speak out. I'm hoping for a UN inquiry into abuse behind closed doors, a clean out of mentally unbalanced people to allow the churches to function with integrity. -
Yes Panda, I know
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Why not? -
as a survivor of pedophilia by a priest, I find the reasoning behind your question naive at best. tiffany is correct that many pedophiles are married and celibate priests certainly are not the only pedophiles. imho, the more appropriate question is whether celibacy is in fact an emotionally healthy lifestyle -
Absolutely, they should be able to have families too. It's a dumb rule...-
I fully agree with you...How can a spiritual leader help and guide people in relationships and raising children when they themselves have zero experience in these important matters...
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beautifully put -
@gerry
A priest can counsel families with children for the same reason an unmarried marriage counselor can have a thriving practice. In many cases, effective counseling is about training and listening and guidance... not just personal experience. -
And a doctor with illness can also cure...
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Aren't they men like us? -
I will just focus on the question: “Should Catholic priests be allowed to marry?”
Questions like these often lead to criticize Catholic church’s teachings on chastity. Many of the critics say that in general, such teachings are unrealistic if not impossible. But a priest is expected to live by the teachings of his Church. The happily chaste priest is a model or an icon that the Church’s teachings on human sexuality, although challenging, can be lived joyfully. If a priest cannot be faithful in his promises to God, then how can others be held to fidelity? Sins against priestly chastity, contrary to common notion, are not so much violations of a "Catholic Church discipline" or a breach of loyalty against an "institution," but a betrayal of Jesus.
The happily celibate priest shows the Church and the world that something is more important than the good of human sexuality, that God is more worthy of love than even the most adorable human being. When a priest exchanges his covenant with God for earthly relations, when he turns his back on heavenly joys for reasons of the flesh, his salvation is in high-risk danger.
But there a lot of things to be done on the part of the Church. Generally the priests need a deeper formation with regards to chastity than they usually receive in seminaries to ultimately respond in accordance the sacred promise he made during his ordination. They need to be trained, specifically, in how to respond properly when they fall in love (regardless of age and gender!). Just like a husband who must maintain his fidelity to his wife and to God. Priests or spouses still have the freedom and the duty to be faithful to those to whom they've previously committed their lives — or else betray those people and those promises.
Anyway, there are other religious congregations that allow their priests to marry or accepting married priests as their members… -
Yes, I think that...they've desires like any person. -
I myself didnt really graduate into a complete human till I married and became a pop.. How can a priest be fully competent to be the guiding light of the masses if he doesn't know the basic aspects of their life first hand?
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I strongly agree with you...
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Yes, according to the bible, the apostles were married and Jesus didn't have any concern with that. In fact He told them if you need to fornicate then get married. Enough said.
As far as having sex with little kids, You're Sick ... cut it off! -
Well I have no clue, catholisism is something that I have no clue about. I just know they have the BEST weddings EVER...
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From what Ive heard in small towns in my country it is common to find the illegitimate children of priests, which raises the whole celibacy debate..which gets me thinking that priests molesting children is a whole different issue. i guess my point is the vow of celibacy doesnt necessarily lead to child molestation. -
I think it would be a great idea, it would cut back on the sexual abuse. It's very hard for most humans to be locked up living a chaste life. It would also give them a much better set of tools to deal with family issues
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Do you all realize that the Catholic Church USED to allow their priests to marry?
However - when it wanted property that it did not want given to the LADY of the land who was married to the priest... Well - it decreed that priests could no longer marry.
Read up on it.
I'm not much of a fan of greed in churches.-
don't worry, all their money is missing. The last 2 popes were installed so they would be on the road a lot so the focus could be away from the disappearing funds
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From what I understand, priests and nuns consider themselves married, to God. They even wear a simple gold band on thier ring finger. So, they obviously made that choice when they entered the Priesthood or a convent.
As for connecting this with sexual abuse. I don't personally believe that one has anything to do with the other.
A person, religious or not, does not abuse a child because he or she is unable to marry (there are many single pedophiles on our planet).
I think the reason this happens stems from a very primal and perverse need, deep inside thier psyche. It's a very twisted version of "I want what I can't have" syndrome...
The environment in which you work does not cause you to suddenly become a pedophile nor does a feeling of lonliness.-
I disagree on the last bit and I don't mean to be disrespectful of your opinion, the environment you are in can make you a little crazy. The subtle brainwashing which goes on in the churches can create an incredible unbalance, the pulling between celibacy and he arousal of normal desires could very easily impact on someone. And I am not saying all people that have taken a vow of celibacy will go crazy but I genuinely think that many can't handle it. I*t creates a battle zone within, many people who I have met in Spiritual circles (not just in church) are 'crackers', and this is because they see sex as naughty, it builds up and they lose the plot, do weird stuff and then go celibate again and the cycle continues.
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Please don't feel as though your being disrespectful, panda. You have the right to your opinion as well
You bring up some valid points I think.
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if they want to and have the interest,why not? -
I think they turn to abusing little children because that is the only way they can get sexual release without possibly being busted! -
I have no idea about this.. -
I (and I'm a non-practicing Catholic so I'm not talking out of left field) think Catholic priests should be allowed to marry - same for nuns for that matter though how often do we hear of molestation cases involving nuns? Anyways, I don't think it's reasonable to ask any one person to give up or ignore an inherent instinct that is sexuality. By denying them an outlet, I think they force it onto victims - altar boys or boys in youth programs because that's who they have the most exposure too (although King Diamond had a great album regarding a priest who was having sex with the nuns of his congregation but that's a whole 'nother story). Anyways, before I get stoned for being a heretic - yes - let them marry. Let nuns marry. Who says you can't have a life devoted to God and not also enjoy the pleasure of the flesh?-
"how often do we hear of molestation cases involving nuns?"
This is an interesting point...Perhaps nuns should be allowed to be priests and popes given their ovious superior moral behaviour and conduct...
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yes
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Catholic Priest can and do married. The celibate (non-married) rule only applies to Latin Rite. Eastern Rite Priest can be married, as long as they are married BEFORE they are ordained into priesthood.
Also just because the norm within the Latin Rite is to be celibate and not married, does not mean that all are. I personally know a few within the Latin Rite that are married. Granted the few I know are converts to Catholicism. They were Anglican (Episcopalian Priest) and when they converted they were allowed to remain a priest for the Catholic Church.
The Latin Rite (Roman) Catholics and Eastern Rite Catholics TOGETHER make up the Catholic Church. So really it's erroneous to say that Catholic Church does not allow priest to be married. The marriage issue is really only applies to the Latin Rite within the Catholic Church and even though it's the norm there are exceptions.
More reading about Eastern Rite Catholic Churches:
www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0106.asp
I just wanted to end with I agree with what libdrone had to say: "many pedophiles are married and celibate priests certainly are not the only pedophiles. imho, the more appropriate question is whether celibacy is in fact an emotionally healthy lifestyle."
I also agree with what Madamex had to say: "In any case, the rate of molestation by Protestant ministers is at least as high, and they are permitted to marry. They simply don't get the press coverage and multi-million-dollar lawsuits because there are more than 10,000 Protestant sects whereas the Catholic church is a single world-wide institution."
I haven seen that happen time and time again. I know in my area that a protestant pastor got arrested, tried, and convicted of child rape. This made it one night on the local news. It never made national headlines, but whatever happens within the Catholic Church is always a matter of national debate. -
I truly believe Catholic priests should marry. It's only natural that they should. -
I support marriage rights for Catholic priests. I also agree that if someone takes a vow of celibacy, they should remain celibate. However, I do not think that Catholic priests should be forced to take a vow of celibacy.
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