by Pat Rapacchiano

Created on: July 31, 2010

The rule that Catholic priests are not permitted to get married is just that a manmade rule of the Catholic Church.  The Vatican has forbidden a catholic priest to get married and to date the rule still stands.  However, does preventing a priest from getting married really make him a better person?  Does it make him better able to serve God? 

 Over the past twenty years much attention has been given to the issue of priests molesting young boys.  This is absolutely unacceptable and should not be tolerated.  However, I do feel allowing priests to marry probably would have little to no effect on the molestation problem.  However, allowing a priest to marry may help him to gain a better understanding of family and married life.  In addition, a married priest may be able to serve God better than he ever did before.     

 I feel that if priests would be allowed to get married, it would a priest to understand women and family life much better.  Yes, it may consume much more of the priest’s time and may ultimately take him away from his duties at the church.  However, I feel if priests could marry that the church may have more men interested in becoming a priest and therefore giving more of their free time to the church and its duties.  The Lord does say in the Bible that a man will have sexual desires throughout his life and that is why he should get married. 

 I don’t believe that preventing a priest from marrying makes him a better person or enables him to concentrate more on his duties to God and the church.  Men will always be men weather he wears a white collar or wears a police uniform.  I believe it is unnatural for any male to suppress his sexual desires and it can ultimately lead to bigger problems for the priest and the church. 

 To my knowledge, the Vatican has examined the possibilities of allowing priests to get married however, to date the original ruling about the priesthood and marriage still stands.  Possibly one day the Vatican will change its position on this ruling. 

 The rule concerning priests and marriage is completely manmade.  A priest remaining single is a manmade rule of the Catholic Church and has no scriptural basis whatsoever.  This could be a reason as to why there seems to be a shortage of both priests and nuns. 

 To my knowledge, the Catholic faith is the only one that forbids a priest to marry.  The position concerning priests and marriage is in the hands of the Vatican.  Only time will tell weather or not the Pope will change the present restrictions placed on priests and marriage.

Learn more about this author, Pat Rapacchiano.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.