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To: Arthalion
Slightly ironic, considering that St. Peter...the FOUNDER of the Catholic Church and Christs self declared "rock", was himself a married man who had children. Most of the apostles were married as well.

You're right! Peter was married! He took a vow of marriage before being called into service by Jesus Christ. And ... he maintained that vow until his excrutiating death in the Forum Romanum. He never waivered. This is why the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches allow married men to enter the priesthood. Their first vow is to their wife and family; the second one is to the Church. Should the wife die, the priest never remarries (at least in the Eastern Catholic Churches).

As to the other disciples, Paul was celibate, as we know from 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 . Our Lord was also celibate and encouraged it as we know from Matthew 19:10-12

Am I missing something here? Which of the other disciples were married?

43 posted on 02/10/2006 5:28:23 PM PST by NYer (Discover the beauty of the Eastern Catholic Churches - freepmail me for more information.)
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To: NYer
Presumably all of them. Jewish tradition at the time was that children were engaged at 12-15 years, and were married shortly afterward. The celibacy of both Jesus and Paul is dwelled upon in the Bible specifically because it is what set them apart from other men. There's nothing to indicate that any of the rest were single.

But if you wish to dwell on the example of Paul, I cannot help but cite his own words in 1 Timothy. The book is obviously well read by the leadership of the church as 1 Timothy 2 is commonly cited as the reason why women cannot become priests. It is slightly ironic, therefore, that the 1 Timothy 3 contains this passage:

1 Timothy, Chapter 3 - 1 This saying is trustworthy: 2 whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. 2 Therefore, a bishop must be irreproachable, married only once, temperate, self-controlled, decent, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, keeping his children under control with perfect dignity; 5 for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of the church of God?

One cannot become a Bishop without also being a priest. How are we to reconcile this?
47 posted on 02/10/2006 6:07:39 PM PST by Arthalion
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