Sarah Mitchell
Catholic priests are generally not allowed to marry after ordination. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as in the Eastern Catholic Church, where married men are allowed to become priests. In the Latin Church, married men who are widows or converts from other faiths can also be ordained as priests, although this is uncommon. While the Catholic Church has maintained a stance of obligatory clerical celibacy, there have been calls from theologians and Pope Francis himself to reconsider this stance, especially in light of priest shortages in certain areas.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic Church's stance on priests getting married | The Catholic Church does not allow priests to marry. |
| Exceptions | The Catholic Church has allowed some exceptions, such as in the Eastern rites of the Church, where married men are ordained as priests. Exceptions are also made when married Protestant clergy convert to Catholicism. |
| Reasons for celibacy | Theologically, priests are seen as serving in the place of Christ, who was not married. By remaining celibate, priests more closely model themselves after Christ. Paul also recommends celibacy, especially for ministers, to allow undivided attention to serving the Lord. |
| Support for change | There is some support for allowing married priests, including from Pope Francis, who suggested that the Church should consider ordaining married men to address priest shortages in remote areas. |
| Opposition to change | Some argue that allowing priests to marry could create issues, such as causing confusion for single women seeking guidance from unmarried priests and potential romantic entanglements with nuns. |
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What You'll Learn
Clerical celibacy in the Catholic Church
Clerical celibacy, or the requirement for priests to be unmarried, has been a long-standing tradition in the Catholic Church. This belief is based on the idea that by remaining celibate, priests can devote themselves more fully to serving the Church and modelling themselves after Christ, who was unmarried. While the Eastern Catholic Churches often allow married men to become priests, the Latin Church typically does not ordain married men unless they are converts from other faiths.
The requirement for priestly celibacy in the Latin Church has been reaffirmed by the Magisterium of the Catholic Church on multiple occasions. Pope John Paul II, for instance, wrote in 1992 that "celibacy is a priceless gift of God for the Church and has a prophetic value for the world today". Similarly, Pope Benedict XVI indicated that he did not believe the traditional practice would change.
However, there have been calls within the Church to allow priests to marry. In 2011, hundreds of German, Austrian, and Swiss theologians signed a letter calling for married priests. Pope Francis has also indicated that he is open to the idea of ordaining married men, particularly in remote areas facing priest shortages. He has stated that celibacy is "not eternal like priestly ordination" and that the possibility of married priests is something that must be studied.
Despite the official requirement for priestly celibacy, there have been exceptions and cases of non-observance. For example, in 2012, it was revealed that a priest in Australia had maintained his clerical status despite being secretly married for a year. Additionally, the Vatican has established rules to protect clergy who have violated the celibacy policy, including those who have fathered children. In certain cases, married Protestant clergy who convert to Catholicism have been ordained as priests, granted exceptions to the rule of celibacy by the Pope.
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Exceptions to the rule of celibacy
The Catholic Church requires its priests to be celibate, and this rule has been in place since the Second Lateran Council in 1139. However, there are some exceptions to this rule.
Firstly, it is important to distinguish between allowing priests to marry and allowing married men to become priests. While the Catholic Church generally forbids priests from marrying, there are some instances where married men are allowed to become priests. This is the case in the Eastern rites of the Church, where it is common for married men to be ordained as priests. Additionally, in the Latin rite, there are a few married men, typically converted ministers from other faiths, who have been ordained as Catholic priests.
Another exception to the rule of celibacy occurs when married Protestant clergy convert to Catholicism. In these cases, the authority of the Pope may grant exceptions to the rule, allowing married Anglicans, Lutherans, and other Protestant clergy to be ordained as Catholic priests. This exception was formalized under Pope Pius XII and is based on the understanding that the rule of celibacy is an ecclesiastical law and not a doctrine, meaning it can be changed at any time by the Pope.
In addition to these exceptions, there have been instances where Catholic priests have secretly married and maintained their clerical status. While this is not officially sanctioned by the Church, there have been reports of priests who have fathered children and continued to serve in their ministry.
Finally, it is worth noting that the Eastern Catholic Churches, with the exception of the Ethiopian Catholic Church, permit married men to be ordained as priests. In these churches, a married priest is one who married before being ordained, and bishops are still chosen from among celibates.
While the Catholic Church generally upholds the rule of celibacy for its priests, these exceptions demonstrate that there is some flexibility and variation within different rites and traditions.
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Ordaining married men
The Catholic Church's stance on the ordination of married men has been a topic of debate and discussion in recent years. While the Latin Church and some Oriental rites require celibacy for priests, there are exceptions and variations within the Catholic Church.
In the Eastern Catholic Churches, it is common for married men to be ordained as priests. This includes the Eastern rites of the Church, where married men from other faiths who convert to Catholicism can be ordained. Pope Francis has acknowledged this, stating that there is no contradiction in a priest being married. He has expressed openness to the idea of ordaining married men, particularly in remote areas facing priest shortages.
In the Latin Church, the distinction is made between allowing priests to marry and allowing married men to become priests. Once ordained, priests are not allowed to marry. However, there are exceptions, such as when married Protestant clergy convert to Catholicism and are ordained as priests. These exceptions are made by the authority of the Pope, as the rule of celibacy is an ecclesiastical law and not a doctrine.
The theological reasoning behind priestly celibacy is rooted in the belief that priests serve in the place of Christ, who was not married. By remaining celibate, priests more closely model and devote themselves to Christ. Paul's recommendation of celibacy, especially for ministers, is also cited as a canonical reason for priestly celibacy.
The debate around ordaining married men in the Catholic Church is influenced by the declining number of priests and the desire to address priest shortages. The concept of "viri probati," referring to proven men of exemplary faith who are often married, has been discussed as a possible solution for remote communities.
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Shortage of priests
Catholic priests are not allowed to marry after ordination to the priesthood. However, in the Eastern rites of the Church, it is common for married men to be ordained as priests, and in the Latin rite, there are a few married men who have converted from other faiths and have been ordained as Catholic priests. In the Catholic Church, priests who belong to religious orders take vows of celibacy, while diocesan priests make a promise of celibacy.
The Catholic Church is facing a shortage of priests, with a steady increase in the Catholic population and a decline in the number of priests. This has resulted in a marked increase in the number of "priestless" parishes, with a growing number of laypeople per priest. In 1981, the ratio was 875:1, which climbed to 2,000:1 in 2012, a 130% increase. The number of US parishes without a priest also rose from 549 in 1965 to 3,496 in 2012.
The priest shortage is particularly acute in certain regions, such as Latin America, which is home to more than 40% of the world's Catholics. In Africa, where Catholicism is experiencing its fastest growth, the number of priests is not keeping up with the expanding congregation. Germany, which used to send missionary priests abroad, now faces a shortage of new clergy, with approximately 10% of its Catholic priests being immigrants. Ireland has also seen a decline, with a 13% drop in the number of Catholic diocesan priests between 2002 and 2012.
The shortage of priests has led to concerns about the future of the Catholic Church, with potential church closures and a reduction in the frequency of masses. The declining number of priests is attributed to various societal factors, such as smaller family sizes, the adoption of contraception, and the rise of scientific atheism and post-modernism. The Church is facing the challenge of incrementally influencing an entire system to address this crisis.
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Marriage after ordination
The Catholic Church's stance on marriage after ordination has been a topic of debate and discussion. While there have been calls for change, the current policy of the Latin Church is that priests and deacons are forbidden to marry after ordination. This is based on theological and canonical reasons, including the belief that priests serve in the place of Christ, who was not married, and the recommendation of celibacy for ministers in Scripture.
In the Eastern rites of the Church, it is common for married men to be ordained as priests, and this is also possible, albeit less common, in the Latin rite for converted ministers from other faiths. The Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, have a tradition of priests' children becoming priests and marrying within their social group.
Exceptions to the rule of celibacy for priests in the Latin Church have been granted by the Pope when married Protestant clergy convert to Catholicism. This flexibility is due to the rule of celibacy being an ecclesiastical law rather than a doctrine, allowing the Pope to make changes if necessary.
Despite these exceptions, the Catholic Church has generally maintained a stance of celibacy for priests, with Pope Benedict XVI and his predecessors expressing their understanding that the traditional practice was unlikely to change. However, in recent years, there have been indications of a potential shift. Pope Francis has suggested that he is open to the idea of ordaining married men, particularly in remote areas facing priest shortages. He has also stated that celibacy can be revised, referring to it as a "temporary prescription."
While the discussion surrounding marriage after ordination in the Catholic Church continues, the current expectation is that priests and deacons remain celibate and unmarried throughout their ministry.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Catholic priests are not allowed to marry after ordination. However, in the Eastern rites of the Church, it is common for married men to be ordained as priests.
Theologically, priests serve in the place of Christ and therefore their ministry configures them to Christ. As Christ was not married, priests remain celibate and devote themselves to the service of the Church.
Yes, there are some exceptions to the rule. In the Latin rite, there are a few married men, usually converted ministers from other faiths, who are ordained to the Catholic priesthood. Additionally, in 2011, Pope Francis indicated that he was open to the idea of ordaining married men to address priest shortages in remote areas.
The rules regarding priestly marriage vary across different regions and cultures within the Catholic Church. For example, in the Eastern Catholic Church, married men are allowed to become priests, and it is common for priests' children to become priests and marry within their social group.
While Catholic priests are expected to remain celibate and unmarried, there have been reported cases of priests violating their vows of celibacy and having romantic relationships or fathering children. The Church has established rules to address such situations and protect the clergy involved.
