[Campion]

Only the example of Jesus and the counsel of Paul. That would seem to be enough.

Clerical celibacy was required by a local council in Spain, the Council of Elvira, back in the third century. It's not that recent.

[Verginius Rufus]

The Oak Ridge Boys' song "Elvira" is not about the council.

Just to avoid any confusion.

It took a while before the rule was widely enforced. Gregory, bishop of Tours in the 6th century, had ancestors who had been bishops.