This issue of priest and marriage has to do with the Catholic and Orthodox churches because they are the only ones who have priests in their religion while other religions refer to their religious leaders as Reverends or Ministers. There have been arguments on the aspect of Catholic Priest not being allowed to get married as compared to other religions who allow their ministers and reverends to get married. Being a celibate priest means that the priest would have to abstain from sex and not get married because of a religious vow. The Catholic Church believes in celibacy of priest and due to this, there have been controversies and debates because some religions believe that the absence of a female figure in the life of a priest has its effects.
Firstly, before a person can become a catholic priest, there are some stages required for the person to go through. Once the person has acknowledged the fact that he is ready to become a priest and he has been accepted by the diocese, he has to go to seminary school. In the seminary school, he will be prepared both spiritually and academically for the priesthood life. Staying in the seminary school is for a period of six to nine years depending on your educational background. It may seem long for them but they have to endure because it shows whether the person is ready to be a priest or not. After this phase is completed, the person is then ordained a priest and he takes his religious vows and the vow of celibacy is one of them. The Catholic Church believes that once a person has taken that vow, the person has to keep to it and for a Catholic priest to get married means he has broken his vow both to God and the church.
For the Catholic Church, Celibacy has been a church rule since the twel...
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...t if Catholic priests were allowed to get married, there would not be scandals such as these. It is because these priests have been denied marriage that is why they crave for something else even if they know it is wrong.
It is true that there have been cases of priest abusing kids but the Catholic Church do not believe it is because the priest are not married. For a person to sexually abuse a child means the person is sick. There are normal people who abuse children sexually and they are referred to as people who are mentally sick and so a priest should be no different. Finding priests who abuse young children sexually is just like sexual abuse in a family which is called incest e.g. a father sleeping with his daughter or mother sleeping with son. This is not to say that it is a normal thing but it should not be blamed on the fact that the priests are not married.
Most weddings are done in church. The newly wedded couple is supposed to hold on to their faithfulness in God. Praying and fasting are major activities that are recommended for the couples. Church, best maids and the altar are a symbol of holiness in marriage and that still applies in today’s life. Church weddings are upheld in the society and people take pride being associated with weddings.
The Clergy of the Orthodox church are set apart through ordination and are divided into three orders, Deacons, Priest and Bishops. I found out by talking to Father Constantine that a priest can be married or celibate, as long as he is married before he is ordained. If a priest is ordained single he must stay celibate. Celibate priest generally belonging to a monastic order called "Archimandrite." Bishops are usually chosen from the ranks of the Archimandrites. Orthodox clergy of all orders wear the cassock in public, but when participating in a church service wear the vestment of their own order and rank. The colors and fabrics may also change according to the season or service.
Advocates of celibacy worry that if priests marry, the congregation will be majorly neglected. However, that point is easily refuted because of the available examples of the leaders of uncelibate churches.
This article is about a senior Catholic Church man called Brian Lucas. He told the royal commission that he was blamed for not reporting abuse in the 80s and early 90s, but nothing he deals with needed to be passed on to the police. Also, he said that none of the cases he deals with require reporting. The media said that he was part of a cover up. He said that in all of these cases the rapper died, or the police or courts already knew, or the victim did not want to report. He said that he never involved his personal reporting to the police. There are some complaints about priest John Ferrell for some allegations about abusing altar boys in 1984. The father, Brian Lucas was one of the two priests responsible for speaking to sex abuse victims
In 1970, a national survey said 70% of Americans believed “homosexuals are dangerous as teachers or youth leaders because they try to get sexually involved with children” (Herek). The idea that homosexuals are prone to child molestation has lessened in later years, however, another poll taken in 1999 stated 19% of heterosexual men and 10% of heterosexual women believed gay men are likely to molest children (Herek). Catholic officials are considering whether to ordain homosexuals as priests. This debate has been sparked by allegations, mostly by young boys and men, that priests sexual molested them. The Boy Scouts of America have declared homosexuals are not welcome in their organization, despite the fact that scoutmasters accused of molestation tend to be married. Fundamentalist Christians are determined to keep homosexuals away from children, claiming, “homosexuals molest children at a much higher rate than heterosexuals” (Traditional). This assertion is wrong, and an unfounded stereotype. Homosexuals are no more prone to child molestation than anyone else. In this paper, I will show the lack of a correlation between homosexuality and child molestation.
Even up until now, the controversial issue of homosexuality is still apparent and widely discussed in many countries all over the world. Although many people are becoming more open minded and less skeptical about homosexuality, many more are still reluctant to accept the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) communities as equals. Whilst many may argue that their religion absolutely forbids same sex marriages, thus, rejecting the idea of homosexual relationship, many of them feels it is their right to make the gays and lesbians straight again. For instance, in South Africa, many males practice corrective rape. It is a form of hate crime towards lesbians in order to ‘cure’ them of their homosexuality in order to change them into heterosexuals (Strudwick, 2014). This proves how sick and twisted the minds of homophobes are. As a Catholic myself, even though I was taught that same sex relationship is wrong and not natural, I do not condemn homosexuals or look down on them. In fact, I even have friends that are gay or bisexual. It is good that more countries have now implemented new laws to protect the LGBT community. This ensures the lower crime rate and discrimination of the LGBTs. Despite the fact that a few European countries and several others have legalized same sex marriages, there are still rejection and objection from some parties particularly from the Roman Catholic Church (Bingham, 2005). Why does the Church have such strong objections? Through my research, I will discuss on the views and teachings of the Catholic Church on homosexuality and same sex marriage.
There are several issues at play as this scandal continues. In this paper I hope to look at the actual scandals involving retired priest Paul Shanley and defrocked priest John Geoghan. These two men served as priests in the Boston community for over 20 years under the leadership of three different Cardinals. Throughout their years of service they had sexual relationships with males ranging from the age of 4 to 26. Only within the past year were legal steps taken against them. John Geoghan was tried and convicted and Paul Shanley’s case is still under investigation.
Towards Understanding, (1999). Towards Understanding: A study of factors specific to the Catholic Church which might lead to sexual abuse by priests and religious (National Committee for Professional Standards, Sydney).
...des aid to the husband by completing household duties and by bearing children. Divorce in Christianity is not encouraged; in fact, everything possible is to be done to save the marriage. In fact, the Catholic Church does not grant divorce unless an annulment is allowed. An annulment will be given if there is any type of abuse in the relationship. Nevertheless, the Catholic Church will first try to rescue what remains of the marriage before allowing the couple to divorce. Marriage is viewed as being a relationship that will last till death is the reason that the couple be separated. Unlike Islam, in the Bible there is no definite answer for the question about Jesus ever being married. Lastly, the Christian faith does not allow for marriage to be completed between the same sexes. The only Christian division that allows it to an extent is some branches of Protestants.
During the Age of Reformation people were greatly against the abuses that existed in the Roman Catholic Church. A couple of abuses that were greatly stressed were the selling of indulgences, simony, and nepotism. It was some of these same abuses that prompted German reformist Martin Luther to write his 95 Theses. And for the Council of Trent to later address them in a series of meetings.
When a man and a woman come together and bind in holy matrimony, two people become one. In marriage, two people come before the pastor and under God with their partner, to recite promises that are vows. In many religions such as Christianity and Catholicism, sex should be for left only for marriage. Sex is an emotional experience that is for married people to enjoy sexual pleasure together. Love and trust are sacred for the foundation of marriage.
As these variations and exceptions indicate, priestly celibacy is not an unchangeable dogma but a disciplinary rule. The fact that Peter was married is no more contrary to the Catholic faith than the fact that the pastor of the nearest Maronite Catholic church is married.
Celibacy is an age-old, multi-religious practice to which both men and women, abstain from sexual relations as because of religious vows . But most monastic celibacy implies a devaluing, and hostile attitude towards the world, life, the body, sex, and the opposite gender. Which directly conflicts with both monastic and buddhist life. Monasticism as a whole often carries a reputation of being ...
Priests from post to post in the hope that they would discontinue the activities they were involved in. The failure of bishops to act on unfavourable reports was inexplicable, and represented a wholly inappropriate and inadequate response.
The Catholic marriage is set apart from all other relationships because Catholic marriages are a sacramental path to sanctity. Paul wrote that marriage is a true sacrament and the sign of the conjugal union of Christ and his Bride, the Church.(Matrimony 2). At Lateran Council II in 1139, it was first defined as infallibly true that matrimony is as true a sacrament as Eucharist and baptism and at The Council of Lyons II in 1274, it was included among the list of seven sacraments.