Should the Catholic Church require priests to be celibate? Should priests be allowed to marry?

[BCRanger10]

The Church requires priests to be celibate. This has not always been the universal law of the Church though. Celibacy started as a regional practice, but was expanded and more strictly enforced over time until the 11th and 12th Centuries; Pope Gregory VII banned married priests from offering Mass in 1074 AD and the Second Lateran Council in 1139 made celibacy a formal requirement.

There have been increasing demands lately though for the Church to abandon the celibacy requirement. Whether you are Catholic or not, I'm interested to know your opinion. Should the Church continue to require celibacy? Why or why not?

It is also required for nuns, monks, sisters, and seminarians.

I fully believe in and support clerical celibacy and think it should continue.

Celibacy should be required

Celibacy should be optional

A total of 28 votes were cast: 8 girls and 20 guys. See detailed results

[Chazmatazz269]

Priests should have the option to marry and have children, but neither be required to do so nor be required to remain celibate. Obviously they should avoid frivolous courtship and promiscuity.
Stay with me here. In a decreasingly pious and faithful world, we need more good examples of healthy and respectful courtship, not fewer. We need more good Christians offering examples of healthy and happy marriages too. If priests are meant to be exemplary servants of God, who better to provide those examples? There are messages in the Bible about marriage, faithfulness to your spouse and making babies. There are also messages about celibacy and offering every part of yourself to the service of God. Why wouldn’t we have examples of both in the church? My first girlfriend was Baptist. Their pastor was married and with his wife they offered relationship, marriage and family counseling. I think that’s brilliant.
Furthermore, there are growing concerns about fewer people marrying and having children. As well as concerns about Muslims outbreeding Christians and secular people. Shouldn’t we have Christian warriors raising children in the faith in the face of a third religion among which there are extremists who want to convert everyone else and wipe out those who won’t? If nobody else is going to populate the world, why prevent priests from doing their part? Especially if they are considered closer to God.
Lastly, how many people have been turned away because they wanted to devote their lives to the service of God, but didn’t feel that they could meet the celibacy expectations? How many potential greats are in the pews instead of the pulpit? How much farther and wider might the word spread with more people in the priesthood, rather than fewer?
A lot of people look at someone else’s suffering and say “That person needs God”. How many say “That person needs only God”?
It should be a choice. And we could have more people showing what happy, healthy traditional marriages look like. Which we sorely need right now.

[Just_Ken]

There are many reasons as to why priests are celibate and many benefits to the Catholic Church. Benefits that Protestant churches dont have. there's a reason the Catholic Church is so strong & untited compared to most other religious organisations.

Jesus was unmarried, and the Church teaches that celibacy allows a priest to configure his life more closely to Christ.

Remaining single frees a priest from the duties of a family, allowing him to focus completely on the service of God and his parish.

By giving up natural fatherhood, priests embrace a spiritual fatherhood for their congregation.

Dedication to Ministry. Unmarried men face fewer logistical conflicts and can respond to the needs of the Church at any time.

Property and Administration. During the Middle Ages, mandatory celibacy was formally reinforced during the Lateran Councils (1123 and 1139) partly to prevent church property and offices from being passed down as hereditary family dynasties.

Single-minded focus. Without a spouse or children to care for, a celibate priest can dedicate 100% of his time, energy, and emotional bandwidth to his flock.

Unrestricted emergency response. Priests can answer emergency calls, visit the sick in the middle of the night, or travel at a moment's notice without worrying about leaving a family behind.

Imitation of Christ. Catholic teaching views celibacy as a spiritual gift that mirrors the earthly life of Jesus Christ more closely, allowing the priest to be uniquely "married" to the Church.

Easier reassignments. Bishops can move priests to new parishes, difficult missions, or completely different ministries without disrupting a spouse's career or children's schooling.

Lower financial overhead. A celibate priest requires a much simpler, more modest personal lifestyle. Parishes do not need to factor in family health insurance, spousal support, or college tuition funds into a modest salary.

Fewer conflicts of interest. Ministers with families sometimes face intense pressure to prioritize their children's or spouse's social standing and happiness within the community over the sometimes harsh demands of the church.

Freedom from "Career Limiting Moves". Married Protestant pastors sometimes admit they feel constrained from preaching hard truths or addressing controversial moral topics if it might offend a major donor family or risk their livelihood. A celibate priest who doesn't fear uprooting a family's financial stability can theoretically speak more freely.

A sign of the transcendent. Catholic theology suggests that a celibate life serves as a visible, living reminder that human existence points toward a heavenly reality beyond earthly reproduction and family structures.

Celibacy is a requirement of the Priesthood but in the Catholic Church there are other options for lay members to serve. The catholic church is basically run by lay volunteers who keep everything running for no payment and of course donations to the collection plate.

[Sunrising]

I agree with you Ken, there are plenty of single guys in the world that are also celibate, and they are highly qualified to take up the role of being a priest.

By removing the stipulation of being celibate this would discourage single celibate guys from entering the church

[Just_Ken]

@Sunrising I dont think celibate guys would be discouraged.

The problem most men would have with the priesthood is the level of commitment and sacrifice required. One of our priests recently died, he was on the priesthood from when he was 20 right up until he died at 85. It would be like being on deployment in the army for decades, I know guys that wouldn't join the army because of the deployments, its why I left.

I've a family now and I volunteer at the church but if I was employed in a priests role I could not commit to that role the way an actual priest does.

[Sunrising]

Ken you seem very knowledgeable about the Catholic Church.

You mentioned about Jesus being unmarried and being celibate allows priests to configure their lives closer to Christ.

Jesus was circumcised and the Catholic Church doesn't expect priests to be circumcised to allow them to configure their lives closer to Christ.

In 40AD the Council of Jerusalem was not required, and the Apostles especially Saint Paul emphasised an inward spiritual change rather than an outward physical mark.

Why has 2000 years gone by and the Jews babies are not being circumcised of the heart?

[Just_Ken]

@Sunrising Judaism and Samaritianism is part of the old testament. Christianity is the new testament.
The first Christians were Jews.
Matthew 28:19
Therefore, go forth and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Sunrising]

All religions have similar aims I try to support myself.

I'm not better than any religion, but it's obvious when religions need to change, and they have changed voluntarily in the past, but unfortunately not everyone accepted the change, and why we have the archaic practices we have today, and they rigorously try to defend them in the name of religion.

[Just_Ken]

@Sunrising the Catholic Church doesn't need to change, its the one moral constant in an ever increasing sick world.

[Sunrising]

Just Ken perhaps the Catholic Church is better than some religions, but the world has always been sick, it's the Internet that is showing up this fact.

[Just_Ken]

@Sunrising no its getting really bad.

[Sunrising]

Honestly Ken only a few years ago there was evil practices that thankfully have stopped.

[Just_Ken]

@Sunrising evil practices continue. there's little to no shame anymore for them. My neighbour stole his mother's home and she has to live with her sister, its ok because he did it legally

[c704710]

"Jesus was unmarried,"

Well that settles it then. Priests must be required to perform miracles and then be crucified.

[Sunrising]

And it's necessary to be a young man too.

[Just_Ken]

@c704710 if you are a non Christian atheist why bother comment?

[Sunrising]

Ken I answered the question too, so I'll answer your question.

As far as I can see Ken all religions today do more good than bad, but there are anomalies in religions, and some are still in the first century or even much older, and should be allowed to change, and it's harmful to religions when people resist change.

[Just_Ken]

@Sunrising change into everything they are opposed to. The church of Satan where nothing you do is wrong, that tells you to fo whatever you want?

[Sunrising]

Ken let's progress and move forward if the priests want to marry that's fine with me.

[Just_Ken]

@Sunrising are you a practising catholic?

[Sunrising]

It's irrelevant if I'm a practising catholic or not, the question was addressed to everyone.

[Just_Ken]

@Sunrising its very relevant. You are ok with priests marrying because you dont have a horse in that race

[NoDecision]

That is why a lot of nuns got pregnant, which was of course hidden by the church and then nuns forced to have abortions, or the babies killed at birth. They are humans just like everyone else, so yes, they should be able to be married, just like in secular religions.

[FreyaRed]

What is the reason? ... It's money.
Celibacy > no wives > no official children > no alimony > no child support > no inheritance after death and diluting of assets of the church.

[strateguy632]

i see several factors to purify to remove additions. first you said it started after 1000 years of allowed. in year 1074 "Pope Gregory VII banned married priests from offering Mass. in year 1139 Second Lateran Council made celibacy a formal requirement." but that is not 'catholic' in the meaning of original and preserving. it is also "not really catholic rule" since original catholics did not obligate it. reversing to original would be catholic in these two meanings.

2. i agree with user exit and his brilliant choice of words! as usual. after we see many priests got caught we should change policy to allow marriage so Less perverts. some married men do bad but it would happen "LESS" as exit wrote.

3. look at Retention rate. now i have my bias, i admit it: hoping catholics will purify back to bible and i will not hide my joy that '14% of catholics switched to protestant' as of end 2025 but if i were vatican and saw catholic only retain 57% -a much lower rate than hindus 82%- stayed hindu in 2025 so it is time for changes to retain and attract catholics.

note: catholics are 19% of American. also 13% of americans are FORMER catholics. so something needs to change.

if i were vatican i know what i would change before celibate rule. first rely on the flip flop of varius popes about abortion punishment. gregory 14 was infallible that sixtus 5 was wrong. able undo even papal bull meaning bill.

so first change 'abortion is a sin' make it allowed until week 28 -keeping the sin but allowing because that would retain more and attract more to catholic. more than 1/3 37% left catholic due to 'social political issues' like criticised israel and forbade abortion etc.

2 forbid praying to mary and saints. only pray to god that would retain more and attract more to catholic. 36% of those who left catholic felt 'spiritual needs not met'

3 after those, that will add many, allow preists to be lady and to marry so "no vow celibate'. these will retain a few more but for "retain goal' others are bigger. just 27% left catholic due to lady.

still this is an urgent change now that preists got caught-

so change it and certainly the other two even more for retaining catholic and attract catholic, same as changed to allow evolution, to attract, vatican can and should change these too.

[OlderAndWiser]

The Mormon church practiced polygamy and claimed it was required by their religious beliefs. When Utah was a territory and petitioned for statehood, Congress sent the message that Utah would not become a state as long as it condoned polygamy. In a remarkably short time, the religious beliefs were changed, and polygamy was made illegal. And I have less respect for the Mormon church because it quickly abandoned its religious beliefs for a practical purpose.

If the celibacy of priests is required by religious beliefs, those beliefs should not be abandoned simply because they are no longer convenient.

[Just_Ken]

Average wage in the US is $70,000. Average wage of a Catholic priest is $25,000.
Mormons give 10% of their earnings to their organisation as do many if not most Protestant churches. There are no tithes in the Catholic church.

The mornon polgamy thing was great if you were the guy that hot to have multiple wives because you got to have all that sex, kids and an army of basically free labour of wives and children to make you wealthy. Not so if you are the young guy uneducated working on your father's farm or business unable to find one wife let alone multiple because all the older men have taken then all.

[OlderAndWiser]

@Just_Ken Okay, but I don't see that any of that is relevant to my response.

[Just_Ken]

Just something to think about.

[Sunrising]

Older and wiser perhaps Congress should make the same statement to Israel, and withdraw their support if they don't stop the barbaric practice of chopping the ends of babies dicks off.

[OlderAndWiser]

@Sunrising If it bothers you that much, perhaps you should join a circumcision support group.

[Sunrising]

Older and Wiser you mentioned about one religions practises, I wanted you to know about another religions practises.

[OlderAndWiser]

@Sunrising The poi0nt I made about Mormons is that they justified something as required by religious doctrine then abandoned it when it was no longer convenient. That applies to the question about whether Catholics should abandon celibacy for priests.

Yes, Jews practice circumcision. They have not abandoned the practice and there is no concerted effort to force them to abandon the practice,, so what is the relevance?

[Sunrising]

The relevance is the Mormons were forced to conform according to you, and if other religions were forced they would also have to conform too.

[OlderAndWiser]

@Sunrising Utah abandoned its belief in polygamy in 1890 based on "divine revelation." They were not forced to do that. And. . . the question is not whether the Catholic church should be forced to allow priests to marry.

[Sunrising]

Older and Wiser thank you for your update.

You was making a point that religions can change, and I was making the point that other religions, I mentioned the Jewish faith can change too.

They have an archaic practice that the Jews should have stopped in the first century.

Beliefs should be allowed to change perhaps from mistakes in the past.

[Kassandra1994]

@Just_Ken youtube.com/shorts/gxcZ2wsghuY?si=EwUE9wPZ1-3oNR0M

I would seduce and marry this guy :)

[Telekinetic-Potato]

I never fully understood it. If a woman is going to be that distracting then don't promote that priest, if its a big problem then that sounds like a failing of the church to me.

The idea that you train these people to live an incredibly pious life and then they can't reproduce has always seemed self sabotaging to me.

[OneViewpoint]

Why do Catholic priests need to marry? Did the altar boys stop putting out? You're gonna destroy a centuries old tradition in the Catholic Church. They've proven they have the money to cover the lawsuits. And it's surely not a moral problem for them no matter what Jesus says..

[SixFootSexy]

The Orthodox allow their priests to be married. There's the verse Catholics use to justify celibacy Matthew 19.12. Mostly referring to eunuchs. So if you can't "fill the earth and subdue it" the original human mandate, then serve God's kingdom.

[Grond21]

In general it seems to be a good thing. There are notable exceptions where the church allows for married priests, and those make sense to me. A married Anglican priest who converts to Catholicism can become a married Catholic priest, for example. I had a friend whose grandfather was like this, or if you are of a different riie, such as the Maronite rite, you can be married and be a priest. But in general, the rules seems a good one.

[Parakeeta]

No. It's unnatural, violating human nature. They should get married. But the catholic church also used to say sex is just for procreation and that too isn't the only natural reason to have sex. One of many reasons I would never be a catholic.

[BCRanger10]

What's unnatural about it?

And where are you getting the idea that the Church says sex is ONLY for procreation?

[Parakeeta]

From Catholics. They are "Catholics" but don't follow the rules.
It is unnatural for most people to not ever want to have sex or deprive themselves from it.

[Parakeeta]

Ok. I have talked to Catholics and they agreed with that. I googled it and it doesn't say that now. I don't know if it has changed, just like their views on lgbt

[BCRanger10]

"It is unnatural for most people to not ever want to have sex or deprive themselves from it." Well, to that, I say first of all (or "ask", rather) is are humans intelligent creatures with intellect and will? Can we perceive, know, and choose whether or not to act? Or are we to be subject to our whims and instincts? No man is forced to be a priest, neither is celibacy some unpleasant surprise that's dropped on him the night before he gets ordained.

I'll continue in the next comment.

[BCRanger10]

"They are "Catholics" but don't follow the rules." Yes, most Catholics are, to put it nicely, utterly incompetent on matters of the Faith. For what it's worth though, I am a certified Catechist.

With that said, the official stance of the Church is that sex has a two-fold purpose, procreation and unity of the spouses. From what I've gathered, that always has been the Church's belief. Admittedly, there may have periods when procreation was emphasized almost to the detriment (even if only perceived) of unity and yes, pleasure, but so far as I can tell, "procreation only" has never been the formal stance.

At the parish I attend, there are many families there that have 8, 9, 10 or more kids. There's one that has 15. You're not going to convince me that all of them "timed it perfectly".

[Parakeeta]

I wasn't trying to. I was misinformed. I guess those posing as Catholics were too. But for me, they also do a lot of things not in the Bible and for that reason I'm out.

[BCRanger10]

Weren't trying to what?

As for things not in the Bible, which ones? And are you a Christian or believer of any kind at all?

[Iron_Man]

I’m not Catholic I’m Baptist, but I always thought the priest was not supposed to be married. How would they know if he’s a virgin or not? What ever God commands I support but other preachers are allowed to get married like Lutheran and the Baptist but not the Catholic.

[FunkyMonkee]

First off, it's ENTIRELY BULLSHIT!!! It'd be like me giving up my life and devoting it to the teachings of Pooh and Tigger!!
Secondly, if they could take on wives, it'd sure as fuck save the rest of us from their molestations!!!

[BCRanger10]

And sex abuse in public schools is just as bad as, if not worse, than the Catholic Church, so what's your point?

[FunkyMonkee]

Is that why I've heard WAAAYYY more about priests molesting little boys that public schools doing so?
What school did YOU go to that molested their students? I've never heard of such things `til just now!!

[NathanDavis]

they should not be allowed to groom and rape children, but they still do it by the thousands and protected after they've done it for decades so..

what is this "should" really about?

[exitseven]

I am thinking marriage should be allowed. Less pervert priests that way.

[BCRanger10]

Married or otherwise sexually active men aren't perverts?

[exitseven]

I think not having sex makes guys a little crazy.

[BCRanger10]

Sorry exit, but that doesn't answer the question. Like I've said on at least one other post, celibacy isn't an unpleasant surprise that's dropped on these men the night before they get ordained. It's an offering, a complete offering of themselves back to God. The New Testament has a good handful of verses praising celibacy and virginity over marriage.

[exitseven]

@BCRanger10 okay- like a lot of things in life people get into something like the priesthood or the military it does not work out the way that they think it will and eventually it becomes too much to bear.

[sage2021]

Instead of becoming a priest they should have become a pastor and get married to a woman.

[BCRanger10]

Why?

[sage2021]

If they want to have sex

[BCRanger10]

That's the point though. They sacrifice marriage and family to serve God and the Church (Matthew 19.12). They offer it back to God.

[sage2021]

@BCRanger10

I know that. I was raised in the Catholic Church.

But what about if you are a priest and can't contain yourself in that way? Oh yeah, that's what the altar boys are for.

[BCRanger10]

There have been plenty of other times in the Church's history when that hasn't been an issue, so what's your point?

[sage2021]

@BCRanger10
My point is that it was an issue and probably still is.

[BCRanger10]

I think your point is ultimately an atheistic one.

[sage2021]

@BCRanger

I'm not an atheist and you know it!!

[BCRanger10]

I know that, but it doesn't mean a believer can't think and argue like one, which is what you're doing. You're basically saying, for one thing, that man is a slave to his passions and desires rather than having intellect and will, that he cannot discipline them. And that God does not give those who serve him the graces they need to fulfill his service (1 Corinthians 10.13).

Sure, the choice is ultimately ours (and sex abuse is, by all accounts, much worse in other churches and industries), but to claim that God does not give one what they need to carry out his will is an argument from atheism.

[sage2021]

Sorry but you don't have my permission to twist my words because I know the truth.
Just keep your opinions to yourself and I will do the same.✝️

[BCRanger10]

I've done nothing of the sort. It's the same thing I say when people accuse Catholics (falsely so, mind you) if "worshipping" dead people in invoking the saints and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In this instance, either God gives His priests the grace to fulfill their calling and they choose whether to cooperate or He doesn't.

[BCRanger10]

And then there's also the fact that more often than people realize, priests are falsely accused. I can think of at least three from my area alone over the last ten years that have been.

[DryGermanGuy]

It's high time for the Catholic Church to arrive in the 21st. century!

[BCRanger10]

The Church IS in the 21st Century (BC and AD exist for a reason).

[DryGermanGuy]

Not with their organization and their messaging. How long did it take for them to admit that Galileo and heliocentrism was correct?

[BCRanger10]

Should eternal values and beliefs be subject to the whims and desires of a given culture?

[DryGermanGuy]

Blind zealotry and fanaticism never leads anywhere positive, that much is certain. There are reasons why Luther and his Ninety-five Theses happened. In my very own country, no less. :-)

[BCRanger10]

What makes it blind zealotry or fanaticism? And can it really be so if a given matter has been decided after careful prayer and study, if it's rooted in traditional belief, can be defended philosophically (and not just with scripture), been debated and scrutinized?

And yes, I know Luther revolted for various reasons, and they weren't good (and I say this with all due respect to a Lutheran here who has already commented, believe it or not, in support of the Church on this matter).

[SaoirseS]

Agree with @DryGermanGuy. Slavish adherence to so-called tradition is one of many reasons why I parted ways with the Catholic Church.

[BCRanger10]

@SaoirseS What's so bad about that (please see my above comment)?

[SaoirseS]

My answer should suffice.

[BCRanger10]

@SaoirseS Either you've not posted it yet or I've missed it. Or you're just referring to your previous comment on this same thread.

Regardless, two can play this game. Honestly, I think the devotion to modernity and so-called "progress" is much more fanatical, slavish, and irrational than that to tradition. And worse.

[SaoirseS]

I’m referring to my previous comment.

[BCRanger10]

@SaoirseS okay, thank you, that's fine. My prior reply to this one stands. The second half, that is 😄

[SaoirseS]

As does mine. Sorry/not sorry, I don’t entertain protracted religious or political discussion here or anywhere else. Clearly you asked the question to advance your point of view, which I don’t share, but you do you.

[BCRanger10]

@SaoirseS Very well then. Until next time *hat tip*

[DishLady]

in my opinion no, it makes no sense. The original apostles weren't all single.

[LiamJHayden]

Scripture does not require celibacy. If anything, 1 Timothy 4:1-3 speaks against the practice.

[Elektra96]

Should be allowed to marry before they become priests, as that is how Orthodox tradition permits.

[Paige2006]

Yes they should be allowed to get married.

[BCRanger10]

Why?

[Paige2006]

They have needs (sexual) too, Maybe it would make more males want to be priests.

[BCRanger10]

But like I told Sage, that's the point. It's a sacrifice, and not some unpleasant surprise that's dropped on them the night before they get ordained.

[Paige2006]

It's stupid as there are other things they could sacrifice

[BCRanger10]

Like what? Some of them already give up lucrative careers. They all give up tons of personal freedom. And of course, especially today, they subject themselves to being accused by random strangers who are so much more tolerant and loving and understanding of lived experience of being sexual predators.