Married Catholics should be ordained priests
According to news report in the Times of India dated 6.3. a Kerala Christian priest has been arrested for alleged sexual abuse of a minor girl inmate of a hostel run by the Church at Pothukal in Malappuram. This is not an isolated and new case. But the cases are not reported to the police for the sincere desire to avoid the Church getting bad name and also many of the victims are poor.
Majority of Indian Catholics are under the wrong impression that the tradition of Catholic priests remaining unmarried has been in practice since the times of Jesus Christ. It is not true. In fact, eleven out twelve disciples of Christ were happily married men. And, if you look at the history of the Church available freely on the internet, it will be seen that earlier not only priests, but bishops and popes were also married. Some of them even had more than one wife and mistresses, too. It was at the general council held at Lateran (Rome) in 1139 AD during the tenure of Pope Innocent II that the law was enacted for priests to remain unmarried for life. Actually, celibacy is glorious only when it comes from within oneself as a result of meditation and self-realization. It should never be imposed as a pre-condition to priesthood. But the Catholic Church has thrust it upon candidates desirous of becoming priests. Since priestly training begins at the young age and the candidates have to make decision too early in life, many priests have strayed at later stage in their life all over the world. Many have also left priesthood and got married. Some also question whether being unmarried is necessary to administer sacraments. In Indian tradition, married life is never considered as inferior or a hindrance or against spiritual progress. The Catholic Church should see signs of the times and ordain elderly married persons of sound character to the ministry of priesthood.
-Vincent Bagul, Mumbai
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