Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
Women in Religion
Married Priests: The Demand for Consideration

Married Priests: The Demand for Consideration

Last updated on: December 17, 2021 at 7:28 pm by Lois Kerschen

Married Priests: The Demand for Consideration 2021-12-17T19:28:35-08:00 Lois Kerschen

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The subject of married priests is one that is broached frequently among Catholics. It is supposed that more men would be interested in the priesthood if they didn’t have to take a vow of celibacy.

The reason for the increased consideration of this change is the shortage of priests, which has resulted in multiple problems. There are not enough to serve all the parishes, leaving priests unsurprisingly stressed, fatigued and lonely.

Many do not now have the companionship of other priests in the rectory, and the pandemic has increased their separation from others. All of this is particularly hard to bear considering that half of U.S. priests are of retirement age and need care, not isolation.

Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino on Unsplash

International Advocacy for Married Priests

The crisis exists in many countries. In Ireland, the spokesman for the Association of Catholic Priests, Fr. Ray Donovan, says that Irish priests would support radical changes.

According to a recent interview with Nick Bramhill, writing for IrishCentral.com, Fr. Donovan said, “The priesthood needs to be reinvented here, and big changes are needed to breathe new life into the Church.”

The Irish priests are hoping that the Synod in Rome in 2023 will bring about this change and put it on the fast track. https://www.irishcentral.com/news/majority-irish-priests-seek-catholic-church-reform

At a previous Synod in Rome in the Fall of 2019, the bishops of Latin America voted to allow married men to become priests in response to a severe shortage in the Amazon region. The proposal carried by a vote of 128 to 41.

In December of 2019, German Bishop Heinrich Timmerevers said he was open to allowing some priests to marry though he considers celibacy the ideal.

If I might propose a possible resolution: allow diocesan priests to marry but require priests in religious orders to be celibate.

Seeking a Solution

There are a number of contributing factors to this shortage. Each of these factors needs to be considered and remedied where possible. Most important to the process is that the discussion be held church-wide, involving all constituencies.

Different world views must be represented by people with a vast array of experiences. This must not be a clerical-only decision if it is to be accepted by the Church membership. Clericalism has been at the root of many Church problems like abuse and corruption, so a more transparent, democratic process is needed.

Not that morality and God’s laws can be subject to popular vote. Learned theologians, clerical and lay, are of paramount importance to determine God’s instructions on this matter. The writings of early Church leaders is also key.

However, if it should be shown that the practice is one that stems more from tradition than dogma, more from ideals than practicality, then there should be a respectful examination of possible alternatives.

Image by Javier Ocampo Zuluaga from Pixabay

Critics say allowing priests to marry may dilute the unique character of the priesthood or appease a delusion that married pastures are somehow greener. A long-held objection to married priests has been that a wife and children would distract from a priest’s pastoral duties.

It would be easy to investigate this concern by asking for testimonies from other denominations, such as Greek Orthodox and Anglican, with long experience on this issue.

We can also ask for advice from the married Episcopalian priests who have converted to Catholicism. I have been in two parishes with such priests, where they were met with easy acceptance, and all went well.

Should the approval of married priests meet with opposition from some congregations, maybe those could be sent a traditional priest while amenable parishes could be served by married priests. Possibly an administrative nightmare, but an option.

The Need for a Rapid Response

Fr. Donovan predicts an end to the ways of the Catholic Church saying that “changes have to come, and they will come, because if they don’t there will be nothing left of the Church.”

That opinion is a bit more dire than mine, but I am open to allowing priests to marry. I do not think it is impossible, as some do, for men to live celibate. We have many centuries of living proof to the contrary. To say otherwise is to demean male morality, dedication and honor.

Nonetheless, changes need to come and quickly. I know that institutions like the Church generally move glacially, but there has already been much study and discussion on this matter, so it is time to act.

Appropriate committees are likely preparing proposals on married priests for the 2023 Synod. At that time, we need a decision for the good of Catholicism and the welfare of its priests.

Previous Post

December 14, 2021

The Catholic Church and Galileo: Truth or Myth?

Next Post

December 20, 2021 Good from Bad: Turning the Tables

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Patheos Catholic Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 July 2026 May 2026 December 2025 November 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 November 2023 September 2023 July 2023 June 2023 February 2023 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Jesus do right after being baptized?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Returned to Galilee Started preaching Visited the temple Went into the wilderness