To the Sentinel:
Jesus chose married men as Apostles.
St. Matthew indicates that a man should not marry if he is not willing to honor the prohibition against divorce.
Corinthians offers advice to virgins and widows; nothing about the priesthood.
First Timothy begins “Therefore, a bishop must be irreproachable, married only once.”
Priests were married in the early centuries of the Church.
Married Episcopal priests who join the Catholic Church continue to be priests.
Priests in the Eastern Church can be married.
The current practice of celibacy in the Church came about through the decisions of men, not Jesus.
I fully agree with the prayer for “laborers for his harvest” but I believe that the practice of the Church to limit the priesthood to celibate men is limiting the laborers who have received a call from God and are ready to serve.
If the current process for candidates for the priesthood was open to men and women who believe they have a call, regardless if they are married or single, many women and married men would be selected and be ordained. Let’s find who God wants as “laborer.”

Harvey Thoennes
Corvallis