If the Pope wanted to allow Catholic priests to marry could this happen?

Question

I understand there is resistance to it, and a belief the priest should be celibate and dedicate their life to the church. But it seems to be more a matter of church tradition after all the Orthodox church does allow its priests to marry. Is there any fundamental matter of faith, doctrine or dogma that could not be overturned in this respect? If Pope Francis wanted to drive this change through do you think he could succeed?

Answer 1

Theoretically, yes.



A celibate priesthood is only a discipline and not doctrine and can be changed.



Priests, religious brothers and religious sisters (nuns) as part of their vocation choose not to marry following:

+ The practice recommended in the Bible

+ The example of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, and the Apostle Paul.



+++ Scripture +++



+ In Matthew 19:12, Jesus says, "Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it."



Jesus says celibacy is a gift from God and whoever can bear it should bear it. Jesus praises and recommends celibacy for full time ministers in the Church. Because celibacy is a gift from God, those who criticize the Church's practice of celibacy are criticizing God and this wonderful gift He bestows on His chosen ones.



+ In Matthew 19:29, Jesus says, "And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life."



Whoever gives up children for the sake of His name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. Jesus praises celibacy when it is done for the sake of His kingdom.



+ Matthew 22:30 - Jesus explains, "At the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the angels in heaven."



In heaven there are no marriages. To bring about Jesus' kingdom on earth, priests live the heavenly consecration to God by not taking a wife in marriage. This way, priests are able to focus exclusively on the spiritual family, and not have any additional pressures of the biological family (which is for the vocation of marriage). This also makes it easier for priests to be transferred to different parishes where they are most needed without having to worry about the impact of their transfer on wife and children.



+ In 1 Corinthians 7:1, Paul writes, "It is a good thing for a man not to touch a woman."



This is the choice that the Catholic priests of the Roman rite freely make.



+ Then in 1 Corinthians 7:7, Paul says, "Indeed, I wish everyone to be as I am."



Paul acknowledges that celibacy is a gift from God and wishes that all were celibate like he is.



+ In 1 Corinthians 7:27, Paul writes, "Are you free of a wife? Then do not look for a wife."



Paul teaches men that they should not seek marriage. In Paul’s opinion, marriage introduces worldly temptations that can interfere with one’s relationship with God, specifically regarding those who will become full time ministers in the Church.



+ In 1 Corinthians 7:32-33, Paul teaches, "I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife." And in verse 38, "So then, the one who marries his virgin does well; the one who does not marry her will do better."



Paul recommends celibacy for full time ministers in the Church so that they are able to focus entirely upon God and building up His kingdom. He “who refrains from marriage will do better.”



See also

1 Timothy 5:9-12

2 Timothy 2:3-4

Revelation 14:4

Isaiah 56:3-7

Jeremiah 16:1-4



+++ Scriptural Examples +++



Biblical role models of a celibate clergy came from John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Apostle Paul.



John the Baptist and Jesus are both believed to have been celibate for their entire lives. Some scholars believe that the example of the Essenes influenced either or both Jesus and John the Baptist in their celibacy.



WWJD? What would Jesus do? Jesus did not marry.



The Apostle Paul is explicit about his celibacy (see 1 Cor. 7). There is also evidence in the gospel of Matthew for the practice of celibacy among at least some early Christians, in the famous passage about becoming “eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:12).



The concept took many twists and turns over the years and will probably take a few more before Christ returns in glory.



A priest is "married" to the Church. Some people think that a priest who takes his duties seriously cannot take proper care of a wife and family.



With love in Christ.

Answer 2

1. The pope at any time could change the rules of the Latin rite to allow for married men to become priests, which is already true in the other 22 rites. (BTW, we do already have some married men who are priests in the Latin Rite - exceptions can and have been made.)



2. This is not the same thing as allowing priests to marry. Once a man becomes a priest, he cannot start dating and marry. Priests have NEVER been allowed to date - if they are married before they become priests, that's fine.



3. The reason why the pope can change this is because it's simply a rule of discipline, not a dogma or doctrine of the Catholic Church.



4. The celibate priesthood is not "a matter of church tradition" - it's a matter of practicality. As Paul wrote in 1 Cor 7, an unmarried man can dedicate all his time, attention and love to serving the church, while a married priest definitely has to reserve time, attention and love to his wife and children, and sometimes the two are at odds. Like when a parishioner is dying and needs last rights on a day that happens to be your son's birthday or something like that. (I used to be a secretary for a non-Catholic Christian church with seven married pastors and they were all constantly pulled away from their families to handle church needs, much to their families' consternation.



5. Certainly Pope Francis would succeed if he wished to change it, but he knows from personal experience the value of celibacy in the priesthood, so I doubt he will.

Answer 3

Yes it could happen, though it is extremely unlikely. This is a rule made by the Church, which therefore could be changed by the Church. Entirely different from the matter of the male priesthood, which is a defined article of the faith which the Church does not have authority to change. Given the fact that Protestant clergy have one of the highest rates of divorce by occupation, it seems that the Church's current position is a wise one. A priest serves the Church 24/7, which doesn't leave much time for a wife and family.

Answer 4

The Pope has nothing to do with the celibate priesthood as that is a a personal calling for those who wish to follow the teaching of Jesus and St. Paul. It is a self imposed discipline. The Pope would never forbid anyone to marry and the Church remains as encouraging the married life for all. Currently priests are free to leave the priesthood and marry at any time but they would be breaking their vow of celibacy which would make them unsuitable for the Sacerdotal ministry. The Church honors and takes seriously vows made to God.



There are 23 Rites in the Catholic Church...All accept married persons as priests but for the Latin Rite the married priest must be a convert from certain Protestant sects otherwise they are chosen from those that have made a vow of celibacy. God bless!



In Christ

Fr. Joseph

Answer 5

Visited a wonderful parish yesterday. The Pastor is 67, and has no Deacons or other priests assigned him.



He says Mass weekdays at 7:15a, Saturdays at 7:15a and 5p with two hours of scheduled Confessions in between, and six couples in wedding counseling and/or rehearsals. Then he says Mass three times on Sunday. Let's not forget 8 hours of Adoration (with Confession available during that time.)



Oh. Plus he runs the parish and the school. and visits the sick and dying.



What, you ask, is the fundamental doctrine that demands celibacy?



24-Hours in a day.



Where do you see time for a wife in that schedule, and how do you see a wife not nagging her husband into retirement long before that?



OK, how about if we dumb down the office of priest?



Take a look at Phred Phelps, Jimmy Fay Osteen or Joyce Roberts Hagee and tell me how well that works.

Answer 6

There are some married Priests in the Roman Catholic Church.

Answer 7

It is actually mentioned in the Bible, as it's better that a priest dedicate his whole self to the Church. The priest is almost always praying. He is praying the Liturgy if the Hours every two hours or so. It would be very hard for him to have a family life and his life as a priest. A priest also doesn't make very much money. It would be very hard for them to get married.

Answer 8

Clerical celibacy is a discipline enacted by the Church, and it could be reversed. It is not something the Pope could do unilaterally.



To clarify, the Orthodox Church will ordain married men as deacons and priests. They may not marry after ordination (except by permission of the bishop given *before* ordination; even that is rare.)



Forgive me.

/Orthodox

Answer 9

Yes, he could change it if he chose. It is not dogma.



I don't think he will though.



Jesus wasn't married. Priests follow Christ.



In Matthew 19:12 Jesus says: "Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”



Priests are those who renounce marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Marriage is so good that sacrificing it is a very holy act.

Answer 10

Well - he would have to do more than merely want for that to be.



I think it *would* take some "legal" wrangling to change such a long-standing doctrine.



Note, though, that certain Catholic priests **are permitted to be married** (e.g. Marionites and also former Anglican priests who convert to Catholicism and who are already married). So: it might not be as difficult a change as I suggested.



However: for the Pope to contravene such a long-standing doctrine is extremely unlikely. Doubtless the Pope was questioned on that particular matter **before he was considered as a candidate for Pope** and found to be firmly in the "no change" camp *before* he was formally proposed as a candidate.



But, yes: **if** he was determined to make such a change, I'm sure that he could succeed.



- Jim, Fundamentalist Christian, http://www.bible-reviews.com/

Answer 11

Yes he could.

Celibacy is a church teaching based on Biblical teachings and not Biblical teachings in itself.

I am catholic and do know that while most Catholics would accept marriage by priest it is not something we would necessarily welcome. perhaps it is simply because it will take some getting used to but there are many issues that it raises. It is possible that in doing so there will be greater problems than the problems marriage would solve,

Answer 12

Technically, yes. Celibacy for priests is a matter of priestly discipline, not doctrine.



Practically & politically, no. He has to convince the cardinals in order to get such a major change through, and that's not likely after Bennie packed them with old-school reactionaries like himself.

Answer 13

He could allow married men to become priests, but he can't allow priests to get married once they are already priests.

Answer 14

They can do any thing as they wish.The question is who is the real owner of this religion and if they allow to get mary ,then Pope himself must act accordingly.

Since the people of the Books have not been forbidden to get married.

Answer 15

A man is selected to be Pope by his peer group. They all think alike so it would seem quite impossible that he alone would be able to make such a decision.

Answer 16

It will happen in time, the Church has become a laughing stock and public opinion has changed greatly.

They will change or fade into oblivion.

Answer 17

In theory yes, but I wouldn't hold your breath.



Give it another six centuries. By the time the rest of the world has arrived in the 27th century, the Vatican might be limping into the 21st.

Answer 18

Yes it is not forbidden in the bible, it was forbidden because the widows were allowed (morally if not by law) to stay in the home rather then be forced out.

Answer 19

Not really. Pope Francis is a figurehead, not an actual leader.

Answer 20

I think catholics are so shocked to have a pope with an iota of common sense that they'll do whatever he tells them to.

Answer 21

He may want this, but there is nothing he can do to change the existing situation.