Where in the Bible is it written that celibacy is a requirement for service in the priesthood?
You're Catholic?
This is boiler plate Protestantism. The Church is based on both Scripture and Tradition and the answers to your questions can be easily found by a cursory survey of the voluminous Catholic treatises on this subject. You could start HERE or HERE
I'm sure you're familiar with this already but reject it.
The doctrine of the Mystical Body says that not all are prophets, not all are teachers so it's not a question of which state is "preferable", as you put it. Each has his or her own calling and for some celibacy is that calling after the model of Christ Himself.....
" there are eunuchs, who were born so from their mother's womb: and there are eunuchs, who were made so by men: and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take it." Matt 19:12.
Christ's bride is the Church (see Ephesians) and the priest (as an alter Christus) follows the example of Christ.
The Lord commands us to be fruitful and multiply. Holy Matrimony is God's plan.
So you're saying that the Catholic Church is thwarting God's plan by insisting that priests remain celibate?
If that's the case, one has to ask how else is the Catholic Church thwarting God's plan which in turn raises the question of why you would want to belong to it?
C'mon......you know what St. Paul says about the celibate state and how he'd prefer those devoted to the Lord's work to be as he is.
Compulsory clerical celibacy is a Church invention
Right....because the Catholic Church just makes stuff up.....
Yes, I am Catholic. But the Church isn’t always right. Look at the current pope for further proof.
In all of those scriptures you quoted, not one of them requires celibacy as a condition for service in the priesthood. In point of fact, St. Paul says a bishop should be the husband of one wife, check out the passage I quoted above 1 Timothy 3:2.
Jesus NEVER taught that celibacy was a requirement for service in the priesthood.
Paul NEVER taught that celibacy was a requirement for service in the priesthood. The contrary is true.
Fact is NO ONE in the Bible ever said that celibacy was a requirement for service in the priesthood.
Most early priests, bishops, and popes in the early Church were in fact married men. Celibacy was not instituted until well into the Middle Ages.
Paul was older when he was writing his letters. He left his religion and became a Christian. He was most likely a widower and had no desire to remarry and he thought Jesus was returning very soon. Paul has no problem with married people serving in the clergy and teaching the gospel. Period.