Ha Ha Ha Ha

[JP2Iloveyou]

ha ha i have ppl at my parish complaining of it costing to much to support the priests think how much more it would be with kids and a wife and a house and insurance etc etc

Second off Peter was married. Key word is WAS. It says that Peter lived with his mother in law. It was Jewish custom back then that if the spouse died then the mother in law wold live with the man or wife. It is fair to assume that Peters wife had died. In the Catholic Church it is perfectly fine for a man who has lost his wife to become a priest.

Third off Paul recommends it so why not do it. Celibacy is a beautiful thing.

good post Vianney

[PedroX]

It is so incredibly frustrating that people like these priests cannot come up with new arguements. Celibacy is not a deterrent to orthodox men who are willing to follow the call. In talking with such men, I more often hear reservations about serving under more liberal Bishops than I hear concerns about living a celibate life. You would think that after thirty years of such discussion at least one new arguement would have been invented.

peace...

[Dave]

And another thing -- in the Eastern Church priests may be married, but they have to be married BEFORE they can get ordained. Yet I don't see Eastern Catholic priests who weren't married at the time of ordination pushing for the privilege of marriage!

[frozencell]

It is so incredibly frustrating that people like these priests cannot come up with new arguements.  Celibacy is not a deterrent to orthodox men who are willing to follow the call.  In talking with such men, I more often hear reservations about serving under more liberal Bishops than I hear concerns about living a celibate life.  You would think that after thirty years of such discussion at least one new arguement would have been invented.

peace...

But common sense would tell you that, even though it may not be the MAIN deterrent, celibacy has to play some role in the decision, no matter how small.

[vianney]

yah and that would be a sign that they arent called to the priesthood.

One of the big things they teach us at seminary is dying to your will. Its not about what I want its about what God wants for me

[hyperdulia again]

if the church changed the discipline tomorrow i would not care i think both marriage and celibacy have their benefits.

[vianney]

i woudl care. I am a seminarian and I think celibacy is great. It is my opinion but hey it is JP2's opinion to so it looks like i am in good company. :)

[frozencell]

if the church changed the discipline tomorrow i would not care i think both marriage and celibacy have their benefits.

I wasn't trying to say anything bad about the priesthood. I couldn't have said it better myself in a million years.

[the_rev]

Our new bishop stands behind celibacy, he said for the priest to be concerned for the welfare of the souls of others, they can't have a wife or child, because they would be number 2 and 3 because God is number 1. So in order to serve the church full heartedly you must only love the church and no other!

What I'm saying is that right?

[JP2Iloveyou]

yah and that would be a sign that they arent called to the priesthood.

One of the big things they teach us at seminary is dying to your will. Its not about what I want its about what God wants for me

I'd have to disagree here Vianney. I think many men are called to the priesthood and don't respond for a couple of reasons. They either don't hear the call in the midst of their busy lives which are usually not being lived for Christ or they flat out say no.

I was thinking as I was reading through the thread on marrying virgins and spouses giving themselves completely to each other. I applied that to the priesthood and it is so cool. A priest is married to the Church. He gives the Church his virginity (or at least the possibility of ever having sex again if he has previously lost it) for what appears pointless reasons to the world and secular society. However, if people only knew what a priest will receive back in return. God will NEVER, NEVER be outdone in generosity. As a seminarian, I know it is perfectly feasible that I may never know what it feels like to have sexual intercourse with a woman. Don't get me wrong, I would love to. Sex is an amazing gift from God. If I am called to the married life, I will absolutely enjoy making love with my wife. I don't think any sane man would say otherwise. However, with the knowledge that I may be giving up sex for life, I also know that I will receive back so much more in this life and the next. I don't know how exactly, but I am quite certain that we have such a small grasp of the joy of heaven that it will make the joy and pleasure of sex seem painful. I'm trying to think of an analogy and this is what I came up with, it's pretty bad, but it's the best I can do.

Imagine you have had nothing to eat for a month. You are offered something right out of Fear Factor. It is either that or nothing. You reluctantly gulp it down to satisfy your hunger. Then, you are offered all the ice cream you can eat in every flavor under the sun. Sex, like the FF drink, is great at the moment, but in Heaven, we will get our ice cream if you catch my drift.

[vianney]

I'd have to disagree here Vianney. I think many men are called to the priesthood and don't respond for a couple of reasons. They either don't hear the call in the midst of their busy lives which are usually not being lived for Christ or they flat out say no.

I never said this is why men dont go to seminary. I said this is a reason in discernment why someone might leave. They have discerned they are being called to the married life. A sign that a man might not be called tot he priesthood while he is discerning is a strong call to marriage and if he feels God can best use him in marriage as a dad then that is a sign he should look into that more deeply.

You must be careful though that it isnt your will to be married but Gods which can get tricky. ;)

[dUSt]

I said no to the calling.

I was lame back then.

[cmotherofpirl]

But your no to the priesthood l ead to another form of ministry. :cyclops:

[cmotherofpirl]

But your no to the priesthood l ead to another form of ministry.

I said no to the Benedictines as well. :wacko:

[JP2Iloveyou]

I'd have to disagree here Vianney. I think many men are called to the priesthood and don't respond for a couple of reasons. They either don't hear the call in the midst of their busy lives which are usually not being lived for Christ or they flat out say no.

I never said this is why men dont go to seminary. I said this is a reason in discernment why someone might leave. They have discerned they are being called to the married life. A sign that a man might not be called tot he priesthood while he is discerning is a strong call to marriage and if he feels God can best use him in marriage as a dad then that is a sign he should look into that more deeply.

You must be careful though that it isnt your will to be married but Gods which can get tricky. 

true that

[JP2Iloveyou]

I said no to the calling.

I was lame back then.

dUST, if you think you had a call to the priesthood and you are married now, have you ever considered the permanent diaconate? True, it's not the priesthood, but it's the next best thing. It's kind of like saying, "God, I realize now you wanted me to be a priest, however, since I can't currently do that right now because of my wife and children, I can serve you in this capacity."

[musturde]

Maronite dudes don't need to be celebs (noun for celebacy... I made it up... I sink) :D.... U can turn Maronite Dust... then u can be a priest!

... You might hafta learn arabic though and even that's not that necisary (I think) cuz I think u could just do the masses in full english with lifeteen...or make and arabic lifeteen and become famous . heheheheh :D

Edited December 19, 2003 by musturde

[ZmeFly]

Celebicy is extremely important to the Priest hood!!

How can anyone think it is okay for them to marry!!

The Priest has his work cut out for him, he has a family.

A BIG one, his parish. He cannot serve two familes equally.

Being a parent and a priest are two seperate vocations.

One cannot expect a priest to serve his parish completely while having a wife and kids to attend to. When you have kids your first responsiblity to God is the teaching and caring for the Children. One cannot be in two places at the same time.

Today a Priests main proiority is YOU the parishoner, it is you which his vocation serves. He sacrificed his family to do God's work and take care of God's family.

The shortage of priests is not coming from mandatory celibacy, but rather society.

The attack on the family is taking it's toll. What kind of importance does religion play outside of society these days. TV? Remember those older movies with proper famlies and prayer. I don't watch TV anymore, what is on there now?

The shortage of priesthood is directly linked to societies attack on the family.

A good priest will come from a strong family(usually) without a good family foundation is very easy to get off track.