Once ordained, the Catholic Church doesn’t allow its priests to marry. Even if the priest were to marry after leaving the church to join another church or were to fall away from the faith altogether, the marriage isn’t viewed as legitimate. Unless the priest has received dispensation from the Holy See (ecclesiastical governance or jurisdiction), any marriage is looked at as an invalid attempt to marry.
The Church’s theological reason for its priests not marrying is that Christ was never married. The thinking is that because its priests serve in the place of Christ, its priests should model Christ by remaining celibate and devoting themselves to serving the church. Here, though, are a couple of thoughts on the matter by Christ. They are expressed through inspiration given to some of the New Testament writers.
“The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage…” (1 Timothy 4: 1, 3).
“Marriage is to be held in honor among all…” (Hebrews 13: 4).
In essence, these two passages consist of a warning to all (including church authorities) that the prohibition of marriage is a satanic teaching, for marriage is of a moral integrity that’s esteemed to be a reverent, privileged right for all.
The Catholic Church would probably counter that with 1 Corinthians 7: 32-35. In it, Paul states that remaining single allows for undivided attention in serving the Lord. That’s true, but not everyone can live in that way. Paul admits as much back in vs. 7. He recognizes that in order for one to do so, it has to be a gift from God.
The same is said in so many words from Jesus’ own mouth. In terms of Paul’s “gift” statement, Jesus said that all cannot accept celibacy. But for those who want to, for the sake of heaven, so be it (Matthew 19: 11, 12). In other words, being single and celibate is for a relative few who volunteer. These individuals are those who are called or who have made a choice. Either way, it is between the individual and God. It cannot be commanded by anyone else.
Finally, from other biblical instances, we see that those in ministry don’t have to be single. The Old Testament priests had wives and children (Leviticus 21: 10, 13; Exodus 29: 9; 1 Samuel 1: 3). In the New Testament, Paul speaks approvingly of marriage for those in charge (1 Timothy 3: 2). And to top it all off, the Catholic Church considers the Apostle Peter to be the first pope. Peter was married (Matthew 8: 14; Mark 1: 30; Luke 4: 38).