Why priests cant marry

This, however, is not common. Finally, in neither the Latin rite nor the Eastern rites do priests or deacons marry after they have been ordained, except in extraordinary circumstances. Theologically, it may be pointed out that priests serve in the place of Christ and therefore, their ministry specially configures them to Christ.

As is clear from Scripture, Christ was not married except in a mystical sense, to the Church. By remaining celibate and devoting themselves to the service of the Church, priests more closely model, configure themselves to, and consecrate themselves to Christ. As Christ himself makes clear, none of us will be married in heaven Mt — This distinction is possible because there is nothing in the Deposit of the Faith that prohibits priests from being married. There is a long-standing practice, though, to require celibacy of Latin or Roman rite priests.

In the Eastern rites, celibacy is generally not required — although it is required for bishops. Additionally, you will find married Catholic priests who come, for the most part, from one of the following scenarios: former Protestant ministers who have been ordained as priests under provisions approved by Pope St.

The Latin Church does not see celibacy as an imposition. For any Catholic priest, if already ordained a priest, they cannot subsequently marry. Read Fr. Again, the fear that we are facing a shortage of vocations and that the priesthood is in crisis leads some to question whether it is time to change the tradition. But in his book Why Celibacy?

Carter Griffin warns that altering the tradition of priestly celibacy would have unintended consequences. He also argues that while there is a crisis in the priesthood, it is not one caused by celibacy, but by celibacy lived badly. The problem is unfaithfulness to the vow, not the vow itself. In fact, he argues that a recommitment to priestly celibacy can renew the priesthood like no other option.

Many are asking whether there is a path forward for the priesthood and what that path might be. A recommitment to the rich gift of priestly celibacy entrusted to the Church is urgently needed as we work toward meaningful renewal.

Read more in Fr. Priestly celibacy, some say, is an outdated relic from another age. Others see it as a lonely way of life. But as Fr.