In eleventh grade I wrote the paper you can read below you. I think it is a good idea to post it, and to supplement it I have added more objections and replies at the bottom of the page under "MORE:".
I hope you enjoy! God Bless.
Consideration: Married priests would have positive benefits on today's society.
I hope you enjoy! God Bless.
Consideration: Married priests would have positive benefits on today's society.
Objection 1:
The Catholic Church, in it's catechism, states that every mans primary duty is to know, love and serve God (Part 1, Section 2, Chapter 1, Article 1 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church). For a married man his next duty is to his family. For a priest, his next duty would be to the service of holiness. In the case of married priesthood, the man would be split between the two callings and thus not be able to fulfill either to the best of his capability. It is inevitable that a married priest would either focus more attention on his family, or on the church and his parish. Man is not perfect like Christ, and Christ, himself, chose to remain celibate as an example to his priests. Since the unavoidable neglect man would inflict on either the duties of married life or of priestly life there would be no real benefit that could be given to society in any age, not only today's.
The Catholic Church, in it's catechism, states that every mans primary duty is to know, love and serve God (Part 1, Section 2, Chapter 1, Article 1 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church). For a married man his next duty is to his family. For a priest, his next duty would be to the service of holiness. In the case of married priesthood, the man would be split between the two callings and thus not be able to fulfill either to the best of his capability. It is inevitable that a married priest would either focus more attention on his family, or on the church and his parish. Man is not perfect like Christ, and Christ, himself, chose to remain celibate as an example to his priests. Since the unavoidable neglect man would inflict on either the duties of married life or of priestly life there would be no real benefit that could be given to society in any age, not only today's.
Objection 2:
Part of marriage is having children. A married priest, like any father with either a wife or children or both would certainly have to provide for his family. Now since the Church is the employer of the priest, this means that the Church would have to be paying for the needs of the married priest and his family. This would be a greater financial drain on the Catholic Church then for a single man, and an expense that would not be completely necessary if a celibate priest is available. If a man believes his calling is to the married life, he must find a means of providing for his family and there are many other more responsible ways of achieving this goal then through the priesthood. By becoming a financial drain on the Church the married man would not benefiting society in a positive manner, since there are other ways he can provide for his family and other things the church could be putting the money toward.
Part of marriage is having children. A married priest, like any father with either a wife or children or both would certainly have to provide for his family. Now since the Church is the employer of the priest, this means that the Church would have to be paying for the needs of the married priest and his family. This would be a greater financial drain on the Catholic Church then for a single man, and an expense that would not be completely necessary if a celibate priest is available. If a man believes his calling is to the married life, he must find a means of providing for his family and there are many other more responsible ways of achieving this goal then through the priesthood. By becoming a financial drain on the Church the married man would not benefiting society in a positive manner, since there are other ways he can provide for his family and other things the church could be putting the money toward.
Main Body:
Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ selected married men for ordination (Mk. 1:30 referring to Peter's mother-in-law, as well as 1 Cor. 9:5). thus the call to ordained ministry and the call to celibacy, which are often two separate callings, can also overlap in the same person. However, God may still call a man in today's society to both the married life and the priesthood. If the vocation to both marriage and priesthood is valid, then this dual calling would be beneficial to today's society. In 1 Timothy 4:1-3, Saint Paul warns against forcing celibacy on a person not called to it. to question the desire of a married man to become a priest runs the risk of following what Saint Paul called a deceitful spirit. A world full of "deceitful spirits" is not something that would give advantage to society. In addition by not allowing married men to become priests. such a regulation automatically eliminates strong, healthy, moral, married or wanting to be married candidates from consideration for priesthood. If God was truly calling these men to such a life, we know that God's will is good and thus good for society. In fact married priests were not so rare in the early society of the Church, and were actually widespread up until mandatory celibacy was made a discipline in the latin Rite at the Second Lateran Council in 1139 A.D.
The argument that married priests bring about financial distress to the Church and their families is a false for two reasons. First, the Scriptures are clear that the ministry of a the Presbyterate is worthy of a just wage (1 Timothy 5:18). Second, it is morally wrong to demand celibacy of a worker in order to defraud the worker of a just wage. This argument is similar to the one claiming that the married priests have no time for others because they must spend time with their families. Now, it is true that a married priest would need to spend time with his family like any other husband and father. However, He would spend no more time away from his family than a father, who is not ordained, would at work.
In addition is good to point out that any man, called to either the priesthood or the married life would have been a good father no matter which he chose. to be called to both, is a great and high calling. A celibate person has the sacrifices of giving up marriage, however the married life itself also has sacrifices. If one is to be married, they must give themselves to their spouse completely. St Paul (1 Cor. 7:4) and Christ (Mark 10:8) both talk about this when they speak of the two becoming one. Additionally, to be able to accomplish both being a priest and a married man would take strength and much grace, and if the calling is valid then we should trust that God will provide such virtue.
The argument that married priests bring about financial distress to the Church and their families is a false for two reasons. First, the Scriptures are clear that the ministry of a the Presbyterate is worthy of a just wage (1 Timothy 5:18). Second, it is morally wrong to demand celibacy of a worker in order to defraud the worker of a just wage. This argument is similar to the one claiming that the married priests have no time for others because they must spend time with their families. Now, it is true that a married priest would need to spend time with his family like any other husband and father. However, He would spend no more time away from his family than a father, who is not ordained, would at work.
In addition is good to point out that any man, called to either the priesthood or the married life would have been a good father no matter which he chose. to be called to both, is a great and high calling. A celibate person has the sacrifices of giving up marriage, however the married life itself also has sacrifices. If one is to be married, they must give themselves to their spouse completely. St Paul (1 Cor. 7:4) and Christ (Mark 10:8) both talk about this when they speak of the two becoming one. Additionally, to be able to accomplish both being a priest and a married man would take strength and much grace, and if the calling is valid then we should trust that God will provide such virtue.
Now to conclude this thought, the most practical and maybe most obvious reason a married priest would be beneficial is the fact that he would have personal experience in both vocations. this would give the priest a special out look on the married life, and better him to council married couples. also just as importantly it would certainly help while giving advice in the confessionals. While living in our current society, with marriage losing it's value in the world's eyes, to have priests who can fully understand the married life not only through speculation but through experience would greatly benefit today's society. The married priest actually models both essential qualities of manhood, these being fatherhood and holiness. Obviously, both priests and married men are called to embody both of these qualities. however, the married priest would model these qualities simultaneously, as well a s publicly.
Reply to Objection 1:
It is true that the Catholic Church, in it's Catechism states that every mans primary duty is to know, love and serve God. However, man is supposed to do this in all actions. In the case of a married priest, if the calling is from God, there would be no split between the two callings and he should be able to fulfill each to the best of his ability. A great example would be Pope St. Hormisdas and his legitimate son, Pope St. Silverius (Catholic Encyclopedia). St. Hormisdas was called to be both a married man and not only a priest but Pope from the years 514 to 523. He achieved the wondrous feat of holiness in becoming a saint, and his example as a father helped lead his own son to the priesthood. the papal office and finally sainthood as well. [Hormisdas was a married priest - his wife died - then he received higher order/bishop]. Since it is clear that God has the power to give man the graces needed to fulfill the calling of both married father and priest at the fullness of each, a positive benefit on society would certainly result. Especially in the case that saints such as Hormisdas and Silverius come about in today's day and age.
Reply to Objection 2:
It is certainly true that part of marriage is having children, and like any father, a married priest would have the obligation of providing for his family. Now since the Church is the employer of the priest, this means that the Church would have to be paying for the needs of the married priests and their families. It is also true that it would be a greater financial drain on the Catholic Church then for a single man. However, Saint Paul says "the labourer is worthy of his reward"(1 Timothy 5:18). In addition, paying the wages of married priests is an expense that would not necessarily drain as much finances from the church as on might think. The Orthodox and Protestant churches also have to support their priests and pastors, many of which are married. this could certainly be done in the LatinCatholic Church as well, as it is already being done in the Eastern Churches.
In Conclusion:
Married priests would benefit society in an equal manner to those of celibate priests. A married priest would have insight into the married life, and if a man is called to be both married and a priest, to not follow that calling would certainly not benefit society. God is the one who gives us our vocation. He knows what is best, and it is certainly possible that a man could be called to be a married priest, thus to answer that call would almost certainly be beneficial to society in a positive manner.
MORE:
Question 1: If a married man can be a priest and his wife dies, why can he not re-marry? Or Why can a priest, who is not married, marry?
Answer 1: The answer to this is because of the nature of the Sacraments. Priesthood is an eternal mark on the soul and extends into the next life (Heb. 5:10 & 7:21), when marriage is temporary and is only on earth (Mark 12:25). After the eternal mark of the priesthood is made one can no longer take place in the sacraments serving the Church and the mission of the faithful.
Question 2: St. Paul seems to say that we should all be celibate and as a last resort get married. Does this not mean that the ideal vocation among men and priests is celibacy? Should not a priest be pure?
Answer 2: Let me start with a question. Are you saying because it is the ideal life style we are all called to it? I say there is no universal ideal lifestyle for any man or woman. God calls us individually to marriage, or celibacy. Both options are chaste, holy and pure. If God is calling a man to be a married priest who are we to say "No God, that is to hard for him to accomplish" or "No God, he won't be pure that way." Really? Are we claiming to know better than God? Married priesthood is a legitimate vocation. It is time we start treating it like one with the respect it deserves. Equal to the others.
Question 2: St. Paul seems to say that we should all be celibate and as a last resort get married. Does this not mean that the ideal vocation among men and priests is celibacy? Should not a priest be pure?
Answer 2: Let me start with a question. Are you saying because it is the ideal life style we are all called to it? I say there is no universal ideal lifestyle for any man or woman. God calls us individually to marriage, or celibacy. Both options are chaste, holy and pure. If God is calling a man to be a married priest who are we to say "No God, that is to hard for him to accomplish" or "No God, he won't be pure that way." Really? Are we claiming to know better than God? Married priesthood is a legitimate vocation. It is time we start treating it like one with the respect it deserves. Equal to the others.
Question 3: What if the priest has a bad day with the wife, goes to hear confessions and is very hateful toward woman?
Answer 3: This could happen with even a celibate priest just on different subjects. Trust in the Holy Spirit to guide this Sacrament of Penance.
Some Thoughts:
Thought 1: My proposal is that the discipline in some of the Catholic Churches that you cannot become a priest unless you are celibate/unmarried is one that should be removed. This is because in a sense we are telling God that He cannot call all the men within those churches or rites to the vocation of married priesthood. We are using are ability that Christ gave us to bind on earth that which I, personally, believe we should not be bound. In addition, because "whatever you bind on earth shall be bond in heaven" (Matt. 16:18) God respects this and does not call the potential hundreds or even thousands of men that would otherwise be called to the married priesthood.
[Someone please direct me if any of these ideas are heretical]
Answer 3: This could happen with even a celibate priest just on different subjects. Trust in the Holy Spirit to guide this Sacrament of Penance.
Some Thoughts:
Thought 1: My proposal is that the discipline in some of the Catholic Churches that you cannot become a priest unless you are celibate/unmarried is one that should be removed. This is because in a sense we are telling God that He cannot call all the men within those churches or rites to the vocation of married priesthood. We are using are ability that Christ gave us to bind on earth that which I, personally, believe we should not be bound. In addition, because "whatever you bind on earth shall be bond in heaven" (Matt. 16:18) God respects this and does not call the potential hundreds or even thousands of men that would otherwise be called to the married priesthood.
[Someone please direct me if any of these ideas are heretical]
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