In the Catholic Church, whether priests can marry depends on the specific rite and the timing of the marriage relative to ordination. While the general rule is that a priest may not marry, there are important distinctions within the Church.
Understanding Clerical Celibacy
Clerical celibacy, the requirement that clergy remain unmarried, is a long-standing tradition in the Catholic Church. It is crucial to understand that the Church considers this law to be a discipline, not a doctrine.
- Discipline: A rule or practice that can be changed by Church authority.
- Doctrine: A fundamental truth of faith or morals that cannot be changed.
Because it is a discipline, the rules regarding celibacy can vary between different rites within the Catholic Church.
Celibacy in the Western (Latin) Catholic Church
For the vast majority of Catholic priests who belong to the Western (Latin) Rite, the answer is straightforward: No, priests cannot get married.
- Requirement for Ordination: In the Latin Rite, a man must commit to a life of celibacy before being ordained as a priest. This means he must be unmarried and commit to remaining so.
- Post-Ordination: Once ordained, a priest in the Latin Rite may not marry. Should a priest decide to marry, he would have to leave the priesthood, typically after seeking a dispensation from his vows.
Celibacy in the Eastern Catholic Churches
Within the Catholic Church, there are also various Eastern Catholic Churches (e.g., Ukrainian Greek Catholic, Maronite, Melkite Greek Catholic), which are in full communion with the Pope but follow their own distinct liturgical and disciplinary traditions.
In these Eastern Catholic Churches, the discipline regarding married priests is different:
- Marriage Before Ordination: A man who is already married may be ordained as a priest. This means he married before he became a priest.
- Marriage After Ordination: However, even in Eastern Catholic Churches, a man cannot marry after he has been ordained to the priesthood. Once ordained, whether married or unmarried at the time of ordination, a priest may not then enter into marriage.
- Episcopal Celibacy: It's important to note that while some Eastern Catholic priests can be married, bishops in Eastern Catholic Churches are typically chosen from among celibate priests.
Key Differences at a Glance
The table below highlights the primary differences concerning marriage and the priesthood across the main rites of the Catholic Church:
| Aspect | Western (Latin) Catholic Church | Eastern Catholic Churches |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage Before Ordination | Not permitted for priests | Permitted for men who will be ordained as priests |
| Marriage After Ordination | Not permitted for priests | Not permitted for priests (whether previously married or not) |
| Celibacy | Required for all priests | Required for bishops; optional for priests |
In summary, while a priest in the Western Catholic Church cannot get married, a married man can indeed become a priest in many Eastern Catholic Churches, provided he was married before his ordination. Once ordained, however, no Catholic priest, regardless of rite, may marry.
