Is it possible for Catholic priests to marry?

An expert in the field of canon law, Catholic priest Dmitry Pukhalsky answers:

Although Catholic priests It is forbidden to marry; there are also married priests in the Catholic Church.

What's the matter? Speaking about celibacy, we must remember that this is a voluntary refusal to marry. Therefore, it is more correct to say not that Catholic priests are forbidden to marry, but that the Catholic Church ordains men who have chosen a life of celibacy as priests (there are several exceptions, which will be discussed in more detail below).

It should be recalled that, firstly, both in the Catholic and Orthodox churches you cannot marry if you are already a priest, and, secondly, celibacy is mandatory for those who have chosen monastic service.

Consider, however, situations where a Catholic priest may be married. The first of these is that he is not a priest of the Latin rite. As you may know, in addition to the Latin Rite (with which most people associate Catholicism), there are Churches of the Eastern Rites that are in full communion with the Holy See (today there are 23 of them). There are married priests there, since celibacy is not mandatory for them (but, again, you can never marry after taking holy orders!). By the way, the priests of these churches can also serve in the Latin rite.
The next situation when the appearance of married clergy is possible - already in the Catholic Church of the Latin Rite - is the reunion of Anglican priests with it. According to the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus of 15 January 2011, the ordination of former Anglican married priests as priests of the Latin Rite is permitted subject to certain conditions.

It is important to remember that celibacy is only a tradition; it has no doctrinal justification. In the first centuries of Christianity, communities did not require celibacy from priests, but part of the clergy even then voluntarily chose the path of celibacy. Celibacy became mandatory for priests during the reign of Pope Gregory VII only in the 11th century.

What will happen to a priest if he gets married during his ministry? According to Canon 1394 of the Code of Canon Law, a priest who attempts to contract a marriage is subject to ecclesiastical punishment (“suspension”), which results in a ban on ministry. The punishment is "automatic", that is, a direct and immediate consequence of the priest's attempt to consummate the marriage. If a person who has left the priestly ministry wants to marry his wife in the Catholic Church and participate in the sacraments, then this requires release (dispensation) from celibacy, the provision of which remains the exclusive prerogative of the Pope.

In Catholicism everything is much more complicated and stricter. Mandatory celibacy for pastors was elevated to the rank of law under Pope Gregory (7th century). Celibacy was then absolutely accepted necessary measure. It is believed that not only married man is not distracted by worldly affairs and completely devotes himself to God. He does not divide his love between the Lord and the woman.

Celibacy is not just a ban on marriage and having children. This is a complete refusal of any sexual contact. A Catholic pastor has no right to start romantic relationship or looking at a woman with lust. An applicant who was previously married will not receive priestly rank.

The 16th point of the Vatican Council, which took place in 1962-1965, is entirely devoted to the issue of celibacy. It is interesting that before the legalization of celibacy, minor ranks (deacons, etc.) of the Catholic Church were allowed to marry, but practically no one did this, because any such rank is just one of the steps on the path to ordination to the pastorate. In Catholicism, not only spiritual self-improvement is important, but also a certain “career” growth of priests.

In the 20th century, the institution of so-called “permanent deacons” was established. They can enter into marriage, but cannot be ordained a priest. In very rare cases, a married pastor who converted to Catholicism from Protestantism may be ordained. IN last decades The issue of the need for celibacy is being actively discussed, but there have been no changes in church laws yet.

Catholics have a different calendar

Yes, many Catholics live according to Gregorian calendar, but there are also those who adhere to the Julian. It's not just Catholics Eastern rite in the CIS, but also some Catholics of the Latin rite (in the Holy Land it was decided to switch to Julian calendar for the sake of unity with the Orthodox Christians living there, how good and correct this is is another question, but, in principle, no one sees the truth only in the calendar)

Catholics consider Christmas to be more important than Easter.

The Christian Church (no one) cannot think so in principle, since without Good Friday and Easter, Christmas would not be a very significant event. Christmas is loved and awaited, but Easter is officially called the pinnacle of the Liturgical year and preparation for Easter is much more serious than preparation for Christmas. This impression could have been formed due to the mass pre-Christmas shopping and gift hysteria in the West, but there Christmas is considered a favorite family holiday even atheists. It has long been forgotten what exactly is being celebrated. But this is a problem of the secularization of Europe, not the teachings of the CC.

Catholics have no fasts at all

In the Russian Orthodox Church there are 4 multi-day fasts in addition to fasts on Wednesday and Friday; Latin Rite Catholics do not have two summer fasts. There is only Lent before Easter and Advent before Christmas, but the latter cannot be fully called fasting. This is a period of repentance, of course, but it is not fasting. Once upon a time, not very long ago, fasts in the Catholic Church were very, very severe, maybe even stricter than today Orthodox posts, since there were very strict limits not only on what you could eat, but also how much. But fasting for the sake of fasting does not make sense - the Church has come to the conclusion that such a practice of keeping believers half-starved and setting everyone the same limits is simply harmful both physically and mentally. spiritual health flock. The priest, who at one time taught catechesis classes for us, said that he remembers how his parents and grandparents ate until their ears cracked when the fasts finally ended. This was quite recently, since that father looked about 35 years old. Long-term abstinence then led to monstrous eating disorders and gluttony as a result, which is a sin, and it is harmful to health. But this is not what God wants at all. Therefore, strict fasting is now established for all believers over 18 years of age and under 60 for two days a year - Ash Wednesday (the beginning of Lent) and Good Friday. Some people, out of piety and old memory, observe several other days (the same Christmas Eve or the Exaltation of the Holy Cross), but this is their personal initiative or simply a local custom. Strict fasting prescribes abstinence from meat, as well as a strict limitation on the amount of food - eat no more than three times and only once to the fullest, but not to satiety, no snacks in between, not a nut should be eaten, only pure water and medicines. This seems simple at first glance, but I once decided to fast for the entire Lent like this - I went down the drain a few days later. It is also mandatory to abstain from meat for everyone over 14 years of age on all Fridays of the year, excluding those on major holidays. Pregnant and lactating women, the sick and those engaged in heavy work may be excluded from the list of fasting people. physical labor, as well as those who do not have a choice of dishes during the day, eating, for example, in the same school canteen, where there is one menu for everyone. But usually this is agreed upon with the priest, who issues the dispensation (release).
But food abstinence is not put at the forefront - the emphasis is primarily on spiritual cleansing. The Church establishes a mandatory minimum for everyone - two days of strict fasting and abstinence from meat on Fridays, prayer in the morning and evening, mass on Sundays and holidays, and confession and Communion once a year at Easter time (that is, once during Lent, usually as preparation for Easter ). And everyone must choose the measure of fasting for themselves or with the help of a priest. No one forbids strictly fasting if it is necessary and helps spiritual growth. I know that someone sat on bread and water throughout Lent, and on the Holy Triduum until Easter did not eat or drink at all, but at the same time they glowed and fragrant, and someone does not fast at all regarding food (one of the sisters I know -nuns have serious stomach problems, and this is categorically forbidden for her, but this does not make her less virtuous and God-loving). Usually, during Lent, believers choose several promises that they will not do something and that they will do something, on the contrary. We were advised to take one restriction for the body and one for the soul (for example, giving up meat/sweets and giving up long telephone conversations/Internet use for more than an hour a day not for work), and devote the rest of the time to trying to correct what is twisted in us, try to give up some bad habits, pray more, take the sacraments more often, do good deeds. In general, the sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit, and not the amount of uneaten animal food.
But, for example, Catholics of the Byzantine rite (some also call them Uniates or Greek Catholics) fast just like the Orthodox - this is their tradition, their spirituality, the Church allows everyone to carefully preserve their traditions, since unity in diversity is practiced.
During Advent there is no food fasting, except for abstaining from meat on Fridays. According to tradition, a lot of time is also devoted to prayer and works of mercy, believers, as in Lent they make some promises to themselves, but this anticipation of the Christmas holiday is imbued primarily with joy and hope; there is no such repentant mood as before Easter, since the concentration is not on sins, but on waiting for the Savior.

Once upon a time such a ban existed, but it was quite formal. First of all, there was a ban on reading the Bible in popular languages - translations had to be sanctioned and approved by the Church (for example, the translation of the Bible into Slavic languages by Saints Cyril and Methodius was sanctioned and approved) in order to avoid errors and heresies. And so, who will read the Bible in Latin, when the majority cannot read in their own language? But the stories from the Sacred History, which the priest told and interpreted in the temple, were then often retold to the children in the family. That is, the flock, at the very least, knew the contents of the Bible. The ban was in order to avoid heresies due to the lack of education of the flock. Now there is no prohibition, but on the contrary, they are encouraged to read as often as possible and reflect on the Sacred Texts; there is even a prayerful practice of individual reflection on the Word of God called Lectio Divina. Although we are still far from Protestants in reading the Bible.

Catholic priests cannot marry

Clergy are required to celibate only in the Latin Rite, including white clergy, not just monks. But here there are no rules without exceptions. Priests and bishops must be unmarried, and deacons can marry before ordination, but then they will never become priests. There is also no obligation to divorce or renounce the priesthood for those who converted to Catholicism from church communities where the priesthood is allowed to marry. Before a special ordinariate was created for former Anglicans, they were accepted into the Latin rite, and former pastors burdened with wives and children could be ordained priests, but, of course, former Protestant bishops will have to be content with the priesthood, since bishops cannot be married. Eastern rite clergy can safely marry before ordination.
Celibacy was introduced for a number of historical reasons as a disciplinary rather than doctrinal requirement, and therefore one day its necessity may be reconsidered. But so far the Church does not see it expedient to abolish it - there are already enough problems, and then there are a bunch of priests’ wives and their children who need to be fed somehow. This will entail a lot of inconvenience. But if he sees the need, he can cancel it. This is not a sacred thing to be carried around like that.

Catholics marry and ordain gays

It is not true. Homosexual marriages are prohibited, as well as simple relationships. A homosexual himself will not be excommunicated from the Church, but he is obliged to live in chastity. If he does not give in to his inclination, then this is not a sin in itself. An (open) homosexual cannot be ordained as a priest. Since an unhealthy person cannot perform priestly service. The priest’s explanation: “According to the instructions available on this matter, one should distinguish between homosexual orientation and homosexual behavior. At the same time, one should also distinguish between the presence of random and transient homosexual behavior during the period of unformed sexual identity, which can be abandoned and healed, and deeply rooted and habitual behavior. Orientation itself requires caution, but is not a barrier. Transient teenage behavior requires a period of testing the firmness of giving it up, after which point 1. Habitual behavior is an absolute obstacle.” That is, the Church does not turn away from these parishioners as if they were plagued, it tries in every possible way to help them in the fight against their sinful inclinations, but it will not pat them on the head for what is clearly called sin.

Catholics and other Christians are allowed to be godparents

No, only Catholics can be godparents, all others can be admitted as witnesses to baptism, but one of the godparents must be a Catholic.

Catholics have gone so far as to baptize animals.

There's no such thing. This funny myth was born from a tradition existing in some countries on St. Francis of Assisi bringing pets to the temple for blessing. This saint loved animals very much. Well, they are simply sprinkled with water during blessing at his intercession. This is the same as sprinkling a home or vehicle.

To marry a Catholic, you must convert to Catholicism

No, this is not necessary. You can get permission from the bishop for a mixed marriage, after preparing for the sacrament of marriage for 2-3 months, they will get married. A marriage protocol is filled out to find out if there are any obstacles to the marriage, the Catholic side promises to maintain the faith and do everything possible to baptize and raise their offspring as Catholics, and the other side signs that they will not interfere with the spouse’s practice of the Catholic faith and that she is informed of the promise to raise her children as Catholics.

Catholics are not allowed contraception

Yes, all artificial means of contraception and reproductive technologies (IVF, etc.) are prohibited, since the marital act is sacred and nothing should violate its integrity and connection with childbirth. But family planning is permitted by studying the structure of one’s body and the laws of the reproductive function. In many parishes, all couples are taught this before getting married. These methods require discipline, but if the instructions are followed, they work with great precision. We used it without fools and without any “safety net” - we’re not complaining.

Catholics shouldn't get divorced

But this is true. Divorce as a phenomenon within the CC simply does not exist. They won’t marry you a second time, and if you live with someone else without a wedding, they will excommunicate you from Communion until you leave this sin. If for serious reasons it is impossible for spouses to live together (alcoholism, domestic violence, betrayal of one of the spouses and the unwillingness of the other to forgive this and other reasons), then church court appoints separation - living separately, but neither party can enter into a new marriage. There is also the recognition of marriage as invalid, but this is also not a divorce, it is simply stated that there was never a marriage, since its essence was initially violated in some way (for example, one of the spouses hid a serious illness, and the second was not completely free in the choice, one of the parties was forced into marriage through violence, one of the spouses lied when making marital vows, for example, he had a mistress and was not going to part with her or, say, did not even think about accepting children sent by God, etc. serious reasons). But it’s long, tedious, and it’s not a fact that they’ll even admit it—all these conditions still need to be proven.

To be continued

An expert in the field of canon law, Catholic priest Dmitry Pukhalsky answers:

Although Catholic priests are prohibited from marrying, there are also married priests in the Catholic Church.

It should be recalled that, firstly, in both the Catholic and Orthodox churches you cannot marry while already a priest, and, secondly, celibacy is mandatory for those who have chosen monastic service.

Fundamentalists (Christians who interpret the Bible literally) and even some Catholics are surprised to learn that celibacy is not the rule for all Catholic priests. In the Eastern Rites of the Catholic Church, married men can be ordained. This rule has existed from the very beginning. But after ordination, an unmarried priest cannot marry, and a married priest, having been widowed, cannot marry a second time.

In Eastern rites, marriage is possible only for priests. All monks of these rites take a vow of celibacy, and bishops of the Eastern Rite are not married.

In the West, of course, there was a different rule. In the first centuries of our era, priests and bishops could marry (the practice was the same in the West and East), but celibacy soon became preferable and, over time, mandatory.

At the beginning of the Middle Ages, the rule of celibacy firmly took its place in the Latin, or Western, rite. Note that this was a disciplinary rule, not a doctrine. The establishment of the rule did not imply a change in doctrine.

IN last years Several married Latin Rite ministers appeared, some of whom were converts from Lutheranism and were married Lutheran ministers, and others who were converts from the Episcopal Church. Of course, they are the exception to the rule.

Fundamentalists do not approve of what they call “mandatory celibacy” because the Church allegedly imposed the rule against the will of future priests. They have several arguments against celibacy. First of all, they say that celibacy is unnatural. They claim that God commanded all men to marry, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply” (Gen. 1:28).

MARRIAGE IS NOT REQUIRED

This is not true. “Be fruitful and multiply” is a general commandment for all humanity; it does not bind every person. If this were not so, then every unmarried man (or woman) of marriageable age would be in a state of sin by remaining single.

Christ himself would be a violator of this commandment. If you exclude Jesus because of His Divinity, you still have John the Baptist and most of the apostles who “sinned” by being celibate.

Let us remember that the Apostle Paul himself, the beloved apostle of fundamentalists, was single: “To the unmarried and to the widows I say, It is good for them to remain, as I do, but if they cannot abstain, let them marry” (1 Cor 7:8-9).

Fundamentalists note that “a man shall leave his father and his mother and be united to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24). “This means that a man must marry,” they say.

But Christ praised those who leave not only their parents, but also sacrifice the opportunity to have a wife and children: “And whoever leaves houses, whether brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake he will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29).

“It may be,” say opponents of the Catholic position, “but Paul insisted that a bishop must be the husband of one wife” (1 Tim. 3:2), “and this means that at least bishops must marry.” But they are wrong.

SHOULD A BISHOP MARRY?

The meaning of the Apostle Paul's instruction is not that a person must marry in order to become a bishop, but that a bishop should not marry more than once. Moreover, if a bishop must marry, then Paul himself violated his own rule. A rule that prohibits a man from having more than one wife, and therefore prohibits him from marrying after widowhood, does not command him to have at least one wife. A man who does not marry at all does not violate this rule.

In the early years of the Church, because there were few unmarried men eligible for ordination, already married men were chosen for the priesthood and bishopric.

As the number of eligible unmarried men increased, the West began to accept only them for ordination, in accordance with the desire of the Apostle Paul: “But I would that all men should be as I am” (1 Cor 7:7). The East has retained the same custom.

OPINION OF THE APOSTLE PAUL

Continuing to prove Catholics wrong, some people quote the Apostle Paul's remark that a bishop should be “a good steward of his own household, keeping his children in subjection with all dignity; own house, how will he care for the Church of God (1 Timothy 3:4-5)?”

They say that the bishop must be married. If it were correct interpretation, then the logic of St. Paul's statement would imply that the bishop is also obligated to have children, and all children must respect him unconditionally. Would a married man without children be eligible for the bishopric in this case? Obviously not. Would a married man with children whom they don't fully respect be suitable? Not again.

And how to measure children’s respect, how to determine whether it is “full”? Who will determine this? No, all this passage means is that a married man, if elected bishop, must manage his household well.

ARE CATHOLICS NOT ALLOWED TO MARRY?

“But we know that prohibiting marriage is a sign of an apostate church (1 Tim 4:3),” say fundamentalists. “ Catholic Church prohibits certain people, priests and religious, from marrying. This means that this is not the Church that Christ founded.”

In fact, the Catholic Church does not prohibit anyone from getting married. Most Catholics marry with the full blessing of the Church. Those men who become priests become priests voluntarily and voluntarily sacrifice the opportunity to get married.

What does the Bible actually say in 1 Timothy 4:3? The phrase “those who forbid marriage” refers to people who declare all marriages to be evil. Some of the heretics held this opinion, such as the medieval Albigensians (Cathars), who were admired, though little known, by anti-Catholic writers because the Albigensians insisted on using their own translation of the Bible.

Marriage is not evil in the eyes of the Church (remember that it is the Catholic Church that claims that Christ elevated marriage to a sacrament), and no Catholic is prohibited from marrying. It is true that Catholic priests in the West cannot marry, but no one is obliged to become a priest.

Marriage is not forbidden to them as people, but it is forbidden to them as priests. A Catholic man is free to choose a celibate priesthood, a married life, or even a single life (which is also celibacy). Celibacy is not forced upon anyone.