Celibacy is one of the biggest acts of self-sacrifice a Catholic priest is called upon to make, forgoing spouse, progeny and sexual fulfilment for his relationship with parishioners and God.According to the Catholic Church’s Code of Canon Law celibacy is a “special gift of God” which allows practitioners to follow more closely the example of Christ, who was chaste.
Another reason is that when a priest enters into service to God, the church becomes his highest calling. If he were to have a family there would be the potential for conflict between his spiritual and familial duties.
However photos of Catholic priest whi abandond celibacy and walked down the aisle in a low key wedding ceremony has emerged.
Here are some reactions that i have sampled:Pope Francis can, in principle, imagine abolishing celibacy for priests, the Vatican head said in an interview.
Speaking in a recent interview, Pope Francis recalled that in the Eastern Catholic Church, married men are allowed to be priests.
“There is no contradiction in the fact that a priest can marry,” said the pope, who for years has been repeatedly asked by various quarters to lift or relax celibacy requirements for priests.