The Roman Catholic Church is one of the oldest religious institutions in history. The tradition of the church has kept members, from all sorts a countries, active participants. Some of you might be aware, I have an absolute disdain for the Roman Catholic Church, and everything it represents, but there is one thing that would change that.
What if we lived in a world where church members elect their arch bishops, and those who compose their archdioceses? What if the Roman Catholic Church allowed for an honorary council or legislature composed of representatives of their respective diocese's. Better yet, what if the cardinals themselves were appointed by the people, and not the centuries old lineage's and hereditary lines that compose the churches bishops.
My theory, is that the Roman Catholic Church, will either trend towards democracy, or will fall apart completely.
Blackflag:
The reason I'm protestant, is because I like to choose what church to use, and don't like taking orders from someone living in Rome, who care's not for my personal religious belief's. People who remain loyal to the Roman Catholic Church, while not considering its more modern successor's like Baptism and Lutheranism, are only fooling themselves.
The only faith I have in the RCC is that they have a huge stake in christianity, which can be put to unspeakable good use.
Allowing priests to marry would completely revitalize the Catholic church. There are a great many willing and able, but to chose between family and God? That is a tough sacrifice to make - much less demand.
gree0232:
Well I will never argue that family should be put before god, but with that said, the point is solid.
I never really got why priests couldn't marry. I guess the church feels they don't want "Distractions".
Blackflag:
I agree, and I don't understand. I think there are certainly points to be made by celibacy and the ability of humans to control their sexuality, but the idea that man can only serve God when he has no family has lawyers been anathema to me. Its not biblical, its traditional. My best friend is Catholic and would be a priest right now, save that he could not marry and be a father. There are ways to allow priests into the fold, while maintaining orders for the celibate - monks. I never got this - at all. Its not what God says in the Bible.
gree0232:
I had reservations about associating myself with the Roman Catholic Church for the same reasons.
