The shoe symbolism is an interesting parallel—in the culture, servants don’t wear shoes indoors—Moses, as a servant, approaching the Holy Place, should remove his shoes.
On the other hand, family does wear shoes in-doors—hence the prodigal son being shod. We are now sons—shoes are appropriate if one is to use shoes as symbolism.
In Exodus 19, the people are given a chance to be a Holy People, a Nation of Priests etc.—but they blow the optimal covenant opportunity of the time. They are given, IIRC, five conditions, and have clearly fulfilled three. The washing of the garments and the not touching women are the possible places that they have fallen down, and they are aware they have fallen down—they don’t go near the mountain.
God then says OK—not a nation of priests, I’ll set asside priests and give you something inferior, and then begins to speak to them directly until the people conclude this is going to be too hard and ask for something easier.
Abstaining from marital relations before partaking in sacrifice was standard under Judaism, and remained so when Christ completed Judaism. St. Pius X (1903-1914) was the one who abolished the three days of fasting from marital relations as a condition for receiving Holy Communion. If one has that in place and is to make the Bread available Daily, priests need to be celibate.
If they are celibate they won’t attempt to leave the cow and the chickens that belong to the parish for the sake of providing the priest with some of his food, and the land on which the animals depend, or the parish wood lot, to their children.
Thank you for your response. We’ll just have to disagree on what God has decreed. Applying medieval practices to now just seems like a stretch. To compare how modern day priests live with what the Apostles did is a night and day difference. I’m sure your Cardinals are well established in nice furnished homes. The priests have parsonages. Even the Pope has a luxurious palace with many servants. For them to have a family may cost a little more but if it saves your denomination from the consequences of pedophilia, it would be worth it. I think the parishes cow and chickens would be safe enough. But it should really be about what God wants and not what some church committee has decreed. Peace be unto you.
On the other hand, family does wear shoes in-doors—hence the prodigal son being shod. We are now sons—shoes are appropriate if one is to use shoes as symbolism.
Using your logic, the priests aren't servants of God (they're shod). And your Church must not be a holy place either (people walk there with shoes).
PS. There's nothing wrong with being a servant of God.Romans 1:1