This is something I've wondered about recently, and I just wanted to clarify it. Priests can not get married, but a married man can become a priest. Get it? I have also read that married men can be deacons, but not bishops...
AL Kresta makes the point that the Catholic Church only has one Priest- Jesus Christ. Just like our Lord is the "one King, one Prophet, one Mediator and one Shepard," so is he the only priest. But wait- aren't there thousands of priests around the world? Yes, but they all get their instructions from Jesus. I don't know if anyone else remembers this, but Jesus never married...
Another thing Al mentions is that the Eastern Catholic Church commonly ordains married men and even the Western Church "occasionally ordains married men if they have been Protestant clergy and have then sought ordination after entering the Catholic Church."
Many of the early priests and bishops were married- even the apostle Peter, the rock on whom Jesus built his Church.
Although there are plenty of examples of married Catholic priests-such as Peter- it is not recommended by the Church. Why? "The Bible says a family man puts his family first, not the Church." 1 Corinthians 7: 32-34 (http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/why_priests_cant_marry.htm and Al Kresta) This division of family and church is evident in ministers of other Christian religions. For example, it is scientifically proven that in the "Pentecostal Assemblies of God:
* 1500 pastors per month leave the Pentecostal ministry
* 2/3rds quit before they retire.
* 14 years is the average length as a Pastor
AND
* 8 out of 10 pastors and their spouses are discouraged or dealing with depression
* 80% of pastors say they have insufficient time with their spouses"
So although it is not forbidden for priests to be married, it is highly discouraged because priests cannot give their full devotion to God.
Happy Holy Monday everyone! 6 more days till Easter!
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