Why are Catholic priests not allowed to marry?
492129
So he can devote all he has to the church.
805356
Hmmm,\n\nI am not a Priest, but there are some Roman Catholic Priests that are married.\n\nThey were married before converting to Catholicism.\n\nPeace!
106121
If you want to get married in a catholic church, you will be given all kinds of "conditions" and have to jump through all kinds of hoops to satisfy the priest.  Even after you jump through all the hoops, he might refuse to let you actually walk up the aisle, you might have to stand at the back of the church and get married there.  And the priest also might look and see how much your fiance has donated, and if it is not enough, he might still might not do the ceremony until your fiance satisfies his greed.\n\nUpdate to david_in_mil...:  My brother was one of the people I know that went through it.  He and his wife did all the nonsense the priest demanded, then he told them he would not marry them because he looked at the ledger, and saw no donations from him or his wife.  When they explained that she did not like using envelopes and simply put the money in the collection basket, he said she had no proof, and until they met his price, no wedding.  They went to an Episcopal church and were married there - no nonsense, no problems.
525170
The Catholic faith does not permit premarital sex.
260126
I most certainly thirecognizee a priesthood Vatican 111 there are so many problems within our church that drasticawomeneed Ironing out 1.Should Priests be allowed to marry I say Yes, this is a man made law not God's\n2.Should a married man be able to be Pope? No because the day to day working load of the pope would take up all 0f his or her time  this also goes for Bishops.\n4. Should we ordain women to the preisthood? Yes we are so drastically short of priests world wide certainly call womwn to be priests\n3 Should the church recognise homosexuals, Yes God made each and everyone of us in his own likeness, People do not PICK TO BE Homosexuals they are truly born this way, we must learn to love respect and welcome them all as friends, I love my Lord and God and do not agree that he would turn his back on these people, Do you know any they are usually nice patient loving souls.
805534
Nuns cannot perform weddings no matter the congregation they belong to. The only person who is able to perform a wedding within the Catholic Church is an ordained Priest.
293766
A big reason is that many Catholics are more worldly than the Church and God call them to be.  They are "cafeteria Catholics", choosing the parts of the faith that they like and dismissing the rest.  Another reason is that many Catholics are poorly taught . . . they haven't had any teaching since middle or high school (and haven't sought any), so they aren't sure of what is true and what isn't.  Also, there are some who profess the Catholic faith and teach error (my husband was at a meeting of RCIA where a teacher, who had been in the seminary, but left, told the candidates that the Church teaches that birth control is wrong, but that they would be in "big trouble" if they didn't use it).  \n\nIn addition, not using birth control doesn't mean that a woman will have many children.  A good friend, who I think got married in her late twenties, has one living child.  She has also had a miscarriage and had a baby die a few days after birth.  They are not using birth control, but God has not chosen to give her many children at this time.  This is something I must constantly remind myself of, because I tend to judge others based on what I see . . . and a small family doesn't mean small faith in God.  :-)
659028
It's not Parliament, it's the position of Head of State from which Roman Catholics and anyone married to a Roman Catholic are barred.\n\nIf the House of Commons and the House of Lords can allow Asian and African people into the chambers (Lord Tarsem King of West Bromwich, and Baroness Patricia Scotland of Asthal come to mind), then it's likely they'll allow Roman Catholics.
65504
they look at paul as their role model, who was celibate, and also try to be, though he said that theyre better off being married if they're going to want sex, than to want it while swearing it off, and being tempted all the time.  celibacy is not for everyone, only very few, and priests really should not have to remain in that condition unless they feel that they actually can, and it should be a personal choice
501684
Nuns and priests...by entering that order, they are entering into a marriage so to speak with God and the church. And I don't think that priests and nuns consider their lifestyle "torture" as you said or punishment, they feel called to enter into that lifestyle, chosen, and probably pretty blessed.
1047783
To really be objective, you have to look at the reason that women have been mostly excluded from the clergy for so long. \n\nThe Episcopalian church has had female priests for a long time - and has never had an actual rule against female bishops. This is just the first time one has been promoted, and so it's the first time people have had to deal with it. \n\nSo why hasn't it happened sooner? Because the Episcopal church is closely related to the Catholic church, and the Catholic church does not allow female priests. Why is that?\n\nBecause when it was founded, and for a long (long) time after that, only men could be land owners. The church needed land. So, when a man joined the priesthood he brought with him whatever land he owned. He wasn't allowed to marry because that would give him an heir to the land. Since he had no heirs, he would leave the land to the church on his death, and the church's land holdings grew. It made a lot of sense.\n\nNone of that happens anymore, and so there is no practical reason for the prohibition of female priests or married priests. However, the dogma is still there that says only unmarried males can be priests. \n\nPersonally, I'm Roman Catholic - and I'd love the see my church do away with that antiquated law. The Episcopalians already have. And for that, I say, "Good for them!"  Hopefully the Catholic church will eventually follow. \n\nWayne
112641
No, one of the whole premises of being a nun is to be celibate (not having any sexual relationships).  That, therefore, means a nun could not have children with a stranger or with any other person.
520613
Catholic priests are married, in a sense. When a man receives the Sacrament of Holy Orders, he becomes a priest; thus devoting his life "married" to the church. Bear in mind that men seek vocations in the priesthood fully aware of the fact they cannot marry or have sex. It's not like these things were kept secret until after they are ordained.\n\nAnother thing, marriage and celibacy don't really go together. Wouldn't you say? Although celibacy is not Church Dogma, it is considered a "discipline", well founded in the Scriptures:\n\nMatt. 19:11-12 - Jesus says celibacy is a gift from God and whoever can bear it should bear it. Jesus praises and recommends celibacy for full-time ministers in the Church. Because celibacy is a gift from God, those who criticize the Church's practice of celibacy are criticizing God and this wonderful gift He bestows on His chosen ones.\n\nMatt. 19:29 - Jesus says that whoever gives up children for the sake of His name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. Jesus praises celibacy when it is done for the sake of His kingdom. \n\nMatt. 22:30 - Jesus explains that in heaven there are no marriages. To bring about Jesus' kingdom on earth, priests live the heavenly consecration to God by not taking a wife in marriage. This way, priests are able to focus exclusively on the spiritual family, and not have any additional pressures of the biological family (which is for the vocation of marriage). This also makes it easier for priests to be transferred to different parishes where they are most needed without having to worry about the impact of their transfer on wife and children. \n\n1 Cor 7:1 – Paul teaches that it is well for a man not to touch a woman. This is the choice that the Catholic priests of the Roman rite freely make. \n\n1 Cor. 7:7 - Paul also acknowledges that celibacy is a gift from God and wishes that all were celibate like he is. \n\n1 Cor. 7:27 – Paul teaches men that they should not seek marriage. In Paul’s opinion, marriage introduces worldly temptations that can interfere with one’s relationship with God, specifically regarding those who will become full-time ministers in the Church. \n\n1 Cor. 7:32-33, 38 - Paul recommends celibacy for full-time ministers in the Church so that they are able to focus entirely upon God and building up His kingdom. He “who refrains from marriage will do better.” \n\n1 Tim. 3:2 - Paul instructs that bishops must be married only once. Many Protestants use this verse to prove that the Church's celibacy law is in error. But they are mistaken because this verse refers to bishops that were widowers. Paul is instructing that these widowers could not remarry. The verse also refers to those bishops who were currently married. They also could not remarry (in the Catholic Church's Eastern rite, priests are allowed to marry; celibacy is only a disciplinary rule for the clergy of the Roman rite). Therefore, this text has nothing to do with imposing a marriage requirement on becoming a bishop. \n\n1 Tim. 4:3 - in this verse, Paul refers to deceitful doctrines that forbid marriage. Many non-Catholics also use this verse to impugn the Church's practice of celibacy. This is entirely misguided because the Catholic Church (unlike many Protestant churches) exalts marriage to a sacrament. In fact, marriage is elevated to a sacrament, but consecrated virginity is not. The Church declares marriage sacred, covenantal and lifegiving. Paul is referring to doctrines that forbid marriage and other goods when done outside the teaching of Christ and for a lessor good. Celibacy is an act of giving up one good (marriage and children) for a greater good (complete spiritual union with God). \n\n1 Tim. 5:9-12 - Paul recommends that older widows take a pledge of celibacy. This was the beginning of women religious orders. \n\n2 Tim. 2:3-4 - Paul instructs his bishop Timothy that no soldier on service gets en
611968
The error that I find in the Catholic church is not wanting people to use contraceptives. I mean if they don't want people to have abortions, well then let them prevent getting pregnant in the first place! Another thing is that prist shouldn't be celibate. Having sex is a part of life and I don't understand why priests in the Catholic church can't have wives? (I've seen some priests who looked mighty fine...wonder why they ever became priests!)
351826
I watched a great documentary on sexuality and the Catholic Church, and when one particular researcher on the subject was asked that question, he responded as follows. He felt that because no priests are allowed to engage in any sexual act, pedophiles and even homosexuals who have come to believe that their sexual preference is wrong enter the priesthood because they know they can't have sex anyway, so they feel like the priesthood will prevent those feelings from developing. However, as we've seen, that doesn't always provide a solution.
1085822
Henry VIII formed his own church, the Church of England, so he could annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon so he could marry Ann Boleyn.  Under his ruling, the king and not the pope was the head of the church; so he could annul his own marriage.\n\nAnglican priests can marry.
598707
this question has brought out the degree of dogmatic pig headedness that if have come to expect here!!!!\n\nto answer your question, i once new a catholic priest who left the church to marry a buddhist lady. although he remained catholic, they respected each other and were secure enough in their beliefs to accept the differences. I don't thinkk that many who answeed this question are mature enough to manage this.