04-09-2007, 06:28 PM
In the Name of God - Father Son Holy Spirit.
May the Peace of Christ be with you!
Quote:A priest is only a priest if they are ordained in the apostolic succesion of Peter. There are those who fake it out there.
However, there does exist a pastoral provision for married priests. For example, a former Anglican Priest who is married can eventually be ordained into the Catholic Church as a priest. There aren't that many though.
Priestly celibacy isn't the reason that there are few priests.
CITI ministries & the like are lay movements at best. Their men are definitely not valid priests.
Just so you guys are aware, there are Eastern Catholic Rites, i.e. Maronites, Melkites, etc, who are in communion with Rome & allow their diocesan priests to marry before they receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders. This has been a life-long tradition & fully approved by Rome.
Celibacy of the Priesthood is neither biblical nor is it a dogma. The Church has exercised her authority to restrict Latin Rite priests from marrying (for extremely good reasons) under the Code of Canon Law, however, this teaching can & may be changed in the future (but it's highly unlikely).
There's no shortage of priests. Never will be, Insha a Allah!
God bless.
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