h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

You touch on this with the issue of deacons and the circumstances in which they can be married. I'm told by a learned Catholic priest that it is only the Latin tradition of the Roman Catholic Church which forbids marriage in the clergy. This is the predominant tradition and is descended from monastic (Benedictine I think, altho might be Franciscan) influences being historically dominant. There are, however, other traditions governed by Rome in which matrimony in the clergy is endorsed. Also, Church of England priests who objected to the ordination of women were allowed to become Roman Catholic priests even if they were already married.

I would be interested in learning more about the non-Latin traditions in the Roman church if anyone knows anything about them.

Great article, by the way!

Yep, you're right about that. Eastern Orthodox priests for example, can be married and ordained. However, it's the same as with deacons - they have to be married before they get priested, they can't marry after receiving Holy Orders.

And it used to be that way in the Roman Catholic Church too, up until the middle ages or so, the Church allowed married priests. However, various factors, including the amount of nepotism, and church appointments going to sons of incumbent priests rather than the best qualified candidate, led them to change that policy.

The chaplain at my university also points out that his being single 1) gives him more time to spend with parishoners, such as late night visits to hospitals, without having to put his family first.. and
2) means that the vicariate (the local area) can keep him more cheaply, as they only need to pay him a salary high enough to support one person. As opposed to the Anglican chaplain, who, despite serving a smaller number of students, has to get paid a lot more, as he has a wife and children to support.