My experience as a married Catholic priest for 28 years brings to mind several thoughts, both practical and spiritual. First, the church must support new priests’ families financially. During my first years as a married Catholic priest, there were times when we could not pay the heating bill. When I was ordained, it was made quite clear to me that I should not look to the church as my main source of income but rather to a full-time job outside of the church. My parish duties have thus always been secondary.
Secondly, the new priests must be prepared for the spiritual struggles that come with the territory of being a married priest in the Catholic Church. It is difficult for children of priests to hear everyone call their father, “Father.” It is one of my regrets that I could never be a “normal Dad” who was able to attend school functions and sporting events. Priests’ wives often bear the brunt of this special status, for they must allow their husbands to be “priest” at a real cost to themselves and their children.
My first reaction to this was “quit whining”. More priests need a little financial struggle just like their people have. But he gets there. Then he offers this, which is something that can be said out all who minister Christ’s name:
Reform of the priesthood is sorely needed today. The answer is not married priests. The answer is priests who understand the sacrifice that is at the center of their lives—whether they are married or not.
Thank goodness our Anglican church follows Apostolic practice and permits (nay, prefers) priests who are married.
Anglican congregations expect to support both a priest and his family, and they welcome the ministry of the wives and children as well as of the clergy.
I’m not sure “a little financial struggle” is the issue. For me the issue is a full-time job outside the parish and a parish that expects full-time availability for the same priest.
I know there are some priests that have salaries in great excess to the median income of their parish. But my own experience is that that is the exception not the rule.
I didn’t make my point clear. Let me restate and paraphrase :
Then he offers this, which is something that can be said of all who minister in Christ’s name – lay or ordained:
Repentance and obedience are sorely needed today. The answer is not about one’s state in life (married or single) . The answer is Christians who understand the sacrifice that is at the center of their lives —whether they are married or not.
End of paraphrase (how often do you get to paraphrase yourself!)
🙂