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Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

Title:Discussions from a Christian Perspective
Notice:Prostitutes and tax collectors welcome!
Moderator:CSC32::J_CHRISTIE
Created:Mon Sep 17 1990
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1362
Total number of notes:61362

532.0. "Clergy - married or unmarried?" by CVG::THOMPSON (Radical Centralist) Fri Oct 09 1992 19:13

    Should clergy be married? It seems to me that there are both advantages
    and disadvantages to married clergy. There are religions where
    unmarried clergy are considered a good thing (Roman Catholics) and
    a bad thing (I've been told that some synagogues will not hire a single
    Rabbi). 

    			Alfred
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532.1COVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertFri Oct 09 1992 19:359
Note that Roman Catholic married clergy do exist.

Outside the United States, Eastern Rite Roman Catholic priests are permitted
to marry before they enter the priesthood.

Inside the United States, married Episcopal priests who convert to Roman
Catholicism are permitted to be re-ordained even if they are married.

/john
532.2CSC32::J_CHRISTIESet phazers on stunSat Oct 10 1992 21:345
    I have no preference.
    
    Peace,
    Richard
    
532.3JUPITR::HILDEBRANTI'm the NRAMon Oct 12 1992 11:146
    Only by being married, can the ministers understand the problems that
    children, and living with another person bring to you. I strongly
    support having the ministers/priests/etc. married and having families.
    
    
    Marc H.
532.4CVG::THOMPSONRadical CentralistMon Oct 12 1992 13:0916
	1 Timothy 3:2 "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband
	of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to
	hospitality, apt to teach;"

	It goes on for a couple more verses but the second thing on
	the list is what made me think of this topic. Assuming one
	is willing to write it off, can one as easily write off the
	rest? This verse has always been a problem for me in accepting
	celebate priests, especially bishops. I've heard people say  
	that what it means is that if the bishop is married he can
	have no more then one wife. But that appears to be reading a
	bit more into it then is there.

			Alfred

	PS: Verse 12 says much the same about deacons.
532.5JUPITR::HILDEBRANTI'm the NRAMon Oct 12 1992 13:157
    RE: .4
    
    I would like to here the arguements for a celibate clergy. The only
    one that I have heard is that by being single, the person's time
    is more "focused" toward his/her "job";i.e. less distractions.
    
    Marc H.
532.6natch, some would say NOT anywayMPGS::PANDREWSRak el habibMon Oct 12 1992 15:127
    
    marc,
    
    i would hazard that any gay person would be required to be celibate
    if they were to receive a calling to the priesthood.
    
    peter
532.7Celibacy and the Roman Catholic ChurchSDSVAX::SWEENEYYou are what you retrieveTue May 25 1993 16:2824
    re: 679.12            

    Bishops must first be priests.  Candidates for the Roman Catholic
    priesthood must be unmarried.  In the extraordinary case of married
    Anglican priests who are received into the Catholic Church, they may
    receive Holy Orders with the dispensation of the Church.

    Celibacy was introduced into Christianity in some areas in the 4th C.,
    and became general requirement in the West in the 11th C.

    This is not a matter of an understanding of the theology of the
    priesthood, but what the Church believes to be the best way of
    structuring itself for its mission on Earth.

    There are some Catholics who are praying and discussing with the
    bishops that the number of vocations among unmarried men increase, and
    that married men become eligible for priesthood.

    In the Catholic Church, married men may become permanent deacons.  They
    are ordinary ministers of the sacrament of Baptism and serve as the
    official witness of the Church at the sacrament of Matrimony and assist
    and preach at Mass,  They cannot celebrate Mass or perform other
    sacramental functions.  In parishes without priests they serve as
    parish administrators.
532.8JUPITR::HILDEBRANTI'm the NRATue May 25 1993 17:166
    RE: .7
    
    Nice answer. Don't agree with it, but, I can understand it.
    Thanks...
    
    Marc H.
532.9COVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertTue May 25 1993 18:0211
In all other ritual Churches of the Roman Catholic Church (Maronite, Coptic,
Byzantine, Armenian, etc.) other than the Latin (Western) Church, married men
may become priests.  However, this is only permitted in their historic
geographic areas, not, for example, in the United States.

In addition, married Anglican priests and Lutheran ministers may, on a case
by case basis, be ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood in the Latin ritual
Church.  There are over 100 so far in the United States, and there may be
another 1000 or more in England within the next couple of years.

/john
532.10TALLIS::SCHULERWed May 26 1993 15:0114
    Thanks for the replies.   I do believe I understand the reasons
    the rule exists.  And I also understand that there are exceptions
    (as in the case of married Anglican priests being ordained
     as Roman Catholic priests).  I do appreciate the additional
    details provided.

    My question, however, was how the church reconciles this rule
    with what appears to be very clear Scripture indicating that Bishops 
    (and by implication, priests) ought to be married.

    How is it that the Church can decide on a structure to carry out its
    mission that conflicts with what has been revealed in the Bible?

    /Greg
532.11(sorry, I'm in a bad mood today)LGP30::FLEISCHERwithout vision the people perish (381-0899 ZKO2-2/T63)Wed May 26 1993 15:3716
re Note 532.10 by TALLIS::SCHULER:

>     How is it that the Church can decide on a structure to carry out its
>     mission that conflicts with what has been revealed in the Bible?
  
        The usual explanation for something like this goes like "It
        was the Holy Spirit and not the Church that decided upon this
        rule."

        Another generic explanation is that "There is no conflict,
        there can be no conflict, the correct interpretation of these
        is one in which there is no conflict."

        I am sure that there are more elaborate explanations.

        Bob