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Married Priests—A Lutheran Perspective

© John L. Hoh, Jr.

In recent months there has been debate in the Roman Catholic church over whether the priests should be allowed to marry or not. A group of priests including some from Milwaukee have written a letter asking the pope to change a church policy in place for over 1200 years. It's a bit interesting, considering Luther saw fit to allow the priests to marry in Saxony roughly 500 years ago. All in all, the debate doesn't really affect me. But it is interesting to watch the debate unfold. And while I wasn't asked my opinion, I'll offer it anyway.

Each side has its reasons for its position.

Those who seek a married clergy point to sex abuse scandals that have been part of the church for years. This was compounded by recent accusations of pedophilia. Some also note that a celibate priesthood cannot adequately counsel engaged or married couples, especially those in marital conflict. (On the flip side, they are able to counsel those who feel lonely!) A third reason used is the lack of priests in the church and the need for more men to enter the vocation, a need that could be filled by men who, when needing to make a choice, opt for a bride over a call.

Those who wish to keep the status quo note the tradition of the celibate priesthood, the dedication a priest can give his vocation, and that the priest is married to the church.

What is often lacking is Scriptural support for either side-at least what we read publicly. On their own merits each arguments can be debunked. Sex abuse scandals are not limited to the unmarried priests in the Roman Catholic church. Look at any Protestant and Lutheran denomination that has a married clergy. You don't have to look far to find such scandals. Any scandal is serious. They hurt the cause of Christianity regardless of which denomination the scandal occurs in. It should remind us that even the clergy we call to lead us and serve us in God's Word are human, have frailties, and need our prayers. Keep your pastors in your prayer. When you hear of a scandal, keep the parties involved in your prayers as well-that they be strengthened and that they repent and receive forgiveness.

Whether a married clergy can counsel married couples better than a single pastor depends more on the individuals than the situation. My pastor is single but is very effective in marriage counseling. As I've pointed out, a single clergy can relate to loneliness. Loneliness is as deep a problem in today's society as marriage problems are.

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