Should priests remain single or celibate?

I am protestant and in my religion priests are allowed to marry. In fact, my father is a priest and he I don't really understand why the Catholic Church is so against priest to marry. God has said that we should multiply, so why shouldn't they multiply also, because the majority of them would raise responsible, good citizens, I believe.

I think priest is more and more to be a sinner in that particular. Because they are the one who transgress the commandment of God. In Genesis of the first book of the bible it said "go and multiply and to suppress". So they are the one who refuse the said obligation... In the bible there is no verse that prohibit any person to get marriage instead commanded us to get marriage and be one as flesh... All teaching that teach by the priest is contradict to which the bible say. If you analyze what they teach it is very vague... They are against contraceptives because as they say it will be against the commandment of God about the verse "go and multiply" but they are prohibit to get marriage?

i think priests were made to vow celibacy because they need to foocus onb their vocation; that is to only serve God and no one else. Christians though, have found it otherwise; having a wife if you are a pastor is not a problem; she can and should be able to help you with the works for God. of course it should not prove as a hindrance to whatever you can do for God himself. If catholic church finds it helpful for them to consider changing this, i think they should be open to have a talk about the same issue within their congregation.

Hi Stanley, I don't understand it either and it's just another reason why I don't subscribe to any organized religion. Why should the priests or nuns have to follow rules different than any other human being? They are after all just mere mortals, right? From my understanding, their purpose is to help others to understand the bible and it's teachings. They aren't superior to us and should not be held to higher standards. I've always questioned that amongst other things. Just doesn't make much sense to me.

i think it would be in the interests of the catholic church to change the rules on this,i think that little boys would be a whole lot safer, in the company of a priest, as a result. i find it strange that they have interpreted the bible so literally, and in some ways, as a woman i find it quite offensive, as if we women some how caused the fall of man. i think it places unreasonnable restrictions upon people who want to become priests, and its therefore not surprising that they have got into the mess they have. but anyway, i could go on about this for a long time............

Well, to marry or not is a personal thing. But what is the scriptural basis that priest should celibate? In the bible you can read many who centered their life in serving God yet did not celibate.

I find it interesting that in history, prior to the year 1123 when the First Lateran Council banned it, priests used to be allowed to get married. Many priests were married back then. In an article written by Father John Shuster (a Roman Catholic priest) he says that 39 of the past Popes were married, and that in 1993 Pope John Paul II publicly said that "celibacy is not essential to the priesthood." The celibacy issue grew in 1074 when Pope Gregory VII made it law that 'anyone to be ordained must first pledge celibacy', because 'the church cannot escape the clutches of the laity unless priests first escape the clutches of their wives.' It appears that the celibacy/single issue was not biblical law, or even bible oriented, but a man-made (or should I say 'Pope made' issue) that continues to this day. I'm not Catholic, but I believe that with the making of this law it leads the priests more able to stray. In our area there have been so many priests convicted of molesting children, as well as other improprieties. In view of all of this, I don't understand why priests are still not allowed to marry in this day and age. Seems to me that a man-made law by the Pope could be over-turned by a Pope. If interested, here is a link to Father John's article, I found it fascinating and very educational. http://johnshuster.com/thirtynine_popes.htm

Because the Roman Catholic church is a doctrine of demons. They ignore the scripture " it is better to marry than to burn" They ignore that marriage is fine. They take the apostle Paul as an example he did not marry but chose to be celibate but Peter was married as were some of the others. Even if Christ had wanted to be married it would not have been a sin for him to marry. He knew however what he had to do and chose not to be married because it would have left a widow and maybe orphans but he could have and knew if he had chose to and knew he was going to die as he laid his life down. He would still have had brothers to look out for his widow had he married. I know some think he did marry. We only get a glimpse of Christs life not the daily hour by hour life he led nor what any of the others did daily. There is no reason at all for a priest or nun not to marry other than stupidity and foolishness it goes against what God said to do in the first place.

I really do not know what to say about this because I am not catholic. I am Christian and I know that the preachers have wives so I do nit see why a priest can not. Maybe if they let priests have a family they would stop rapping little boys. It seems like thats all we see on tv anymore when it comes to priests. I think every one needs love and in the bibles there is love throughout it all. I mean overall we are all human and it is in our nature.

I think so since God did remain celibate his entire life..but the apostles didn't. So I am really confused now. I have heard of some priests leaving since they want to start a family.. So maybe they should be allowed to have one.

i remember when i was still on my high school days i ask my religion teacher that questions and i dont know if her answer give justice to my questions because she said that if a priest was married and have her own married life it may distract him whenever he preaches just for example the priest was preaching then her child bothers him that he want ice cream so he will be distracted he cant focus on his preaching

The celibacy for the priests is the rule implemented by the catholic church which I believe is not biblical. There is a verse in the new testament, I just don't remember exactly, I think in the epistles of Paul saying that a good bishop is a husband to one wife...... Serving God is not only by being a celibate and who knows that these priests are really celibates? When they remove their costumes...I don't know how it is called in English....and they went to the bars and take ladies...who can identify them anyway...they are still humans and have natural physical needs....

Priests made a vow of celibacy and because of that they are obliged to remain sexually unattached to any woman. I believe that the vow was made to make sure that when they serve God and the parish nothing or no one will get in the way. But this priests are still human, and we must not condemn them if they have failed to remain faithful to their vows because it is only God who makes the final judgement. For all we know, they can still serve their purpose in life even when they leave the church for a woman. Accepting the vocation of priesthood is really tough that is why the church tells us to pray for them too so that they may carry on their duties faithfully.

It is not up to me to decide if priests should remain single or celibate. I never understood the idea behind it nor who made it up once. But it is clear to me that it's very hard for most of them to live celibate. I agree with that ex-priest that having a partner/family has nothing to do with serving the lord (like we see in other churches). It should be a free choice to get married (which is as I believe normal according to the bible). Let's hope there will be less kids/boys be raped then too.