Why are married priests allowed?

Answer 1

1. They don't. If a married clergy member of another religion wishes to be a part of the Catholic clergy they may become deacons, not priests. Deacons are defined as the servants of the servants of God (Priests). You can be married when becoming a Deacon, however if you are not married before becoming a Deacon you cannot get married after the fact. Many people may confuse the two, but these jobs are very different.

---- 2. The above answer is incorrect. The Catholic Church has (and does) by special permission allow certain Anglican and Orthodox married priests who convert to Catholicism to serve as Catholic Priests.

Answer 2

In the early church, deacons, priests and bishops were required to be married to one wife, as was stated in The Bible: "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife..." (1Timothy 3:2-4). Likewise deacons must be reverent...Likewise their wives must be reverent...Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well." (1Timothy 3:8-12).

In later centuries, as the church grew in numbers, it decided that priests who wanted to go on to become bishops should prefer to be unmarried, so that they could devote more of their time to the church. This became a widespread church practice, but there is nothing theologically wrong with priests or bishops marrying.

In Roman Catholicism, no clergy are allowed to marry. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, a married man can become a priest, but he cannot marry once he has been ordained. Only monks and unmarried priests can go on to become bishops.