Can a Catholic priest get married?
Sometimes I can’t help myself: when I see an error in reporting about Catholic matters, I feel I must correct it. Here is a case in point:
In the Omaha Catholic Examiner, Todd van Kampen writes,
If there were a Top 10 list of Catholic cultural touchstones, surely “Catholic priests can’t get married” would be listed somewhere in the top five (if not No. 1). But did you know that it isn’t always true?
He then goes on to give an example of a former Protestant minister (who is married) who was recently ordained a Catholic priest under the Pastoral Provision of JPII that allows such things. He also mentions (correctly) that married men can be ordained Eastern Catholic priests.
So what’s wrong with the article? (Ten points if you already picked it out)
A Catholic priest cannot “get married.” What can happen in extraordinary cases is that a married man can be ordained a Catholic priest. Even in his article, Mr. van Kampen notes that if a married priest is widowed, he cannot remarry. This has been the ancient practice of the Church in both East and West: although married men can be ordained priests in the East and in exceptional cases in the West, no priest – either in the East or West – can get married.
This discipline (and it is a discipline, not a dogma) is a wise one. Can you imagine the issues that could arise from a priest being “available”? What if they started dating someone who went to confession to them in the past? What if multiple women in a parish were interested in an “eligible” priest? No thanks.
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Please send my ten points to my wife’s account. Of course, as a married Eastern Orthodox priest it would be difficult for me not to have caught the error. I keep telling my wife that she can’t ever leave me a widower; neither I nor our kids could survive.
peace and good,
Fr. Joseph Bittle
I AM GREEK ORTHODOX GROWING UP I WAS TOLD THAT CATHOLIC PRIEST DO NOT MARRY. IS THIS TRUE FOR A FACT ? IAM NOT UNDERSTANDING THIS AT ALL. I WAS TOLD BEFORE THAT MANY YEAR AGO THAT PRIEST MARRIED THAT HENRY THE 8TH STOP IT ,AND THEY COULD NOT MARRY,I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT WHATS GOING ON. THE THINGS I READ MAKE ME CRAZY I JUST WANT TO KNOW IN TODAYS WORLD CAN THEY MARRY?
No they should not be allowed to marry.. I have a huge crush on my priest.. The man is beautiful. If it were allowed you have no idea how many old ladies would be breaking hips and canes over us younger ladies heads trying to get to him!!!
Shame for shame…
Hello Brother, I am thinking of becoming a Priest. I used to be a Pastor of a Church in 1998-2001, the church did not last very long, because of the failed economy. 4 out of 5 factories closed, and people moved away to find jobs. I worked a full time job for NAPA and kept the church going, then NAPA closed. So I took up truck driving like my father after he retired from the Airforce. Truck driving takes up most of my time, and do not have much time to study Gods Word like I used too. God has called me again to minister. I am not a Catholic, but I am interested in becoming one. I do not think it matters what religion you choose, just as long as you serve God and help people. Is it possible for a protestant minister become a Catholic minister? I will give you a call if you want. I also was married for 10 years, she cheated on me, so I got divorced.. God bless you brother.