I wonder where in holy Scripture, New Testament or Old Testament, celibacy for priests or pastors is ever required?
Hmmmm, can’t seem to find it. But I guess Rome must know better than the Apostles, Evangelists, and Jesus Himself.
post 16
You have to look in order to find it.
But I guess Rome must know better than the Apostles, Evangelists, and Jesus Himself.
Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise.
It was imposed by Pope Gregory in the 11th. Century. I have heard it was due to two thngs:
1) So the holdings that grew through industry of priests would not be willed to sons and,
2) Royal families were irked that a smart peasant boy might get trained to be a priest, rise through the ranks, and have access to royal circles and then marry into the royal families.
It's not required, and the Church never said that it was. It's not mandated, it's merely part of the discipline the Church chose for historical reasons to place on most who seek holy orders. But the fact is that the Roman Catholic Church always has allowed some priests to be married. As I said above, Eastern Rite Catholics are as Catholic as the Pope and their priests are married.
That said, there's no question that the celibate vocation is very much ordained by Scripture.
St. Paul makes it clear that the celibate vocation is a higher estate than marriage:
Corinthians 7
1Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband . . . 7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
St. John makes it clear that celibate priests will have a special glory in Heaven:
Revelation 14
1And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 2And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
There are many more scriptures, including what Jesus said about the few who would make themselves eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom, but I think it's clear enough. Marriage is a noble calling, celibacy is better. But celibacy is a gift given to a few. Requiring this discipline of rank and file priests has proven to be a disastrous, deeply mistaken policy.
And maybe it's even unscriptural - I'll leave that to others more versed than I to debate. But I would point out that St. Paul required that bishops and deacons (which are I think closest to our notion of priests) be married. Note that they COULD NOT be celibate:
1 Timothy 3:2 (King James Version) 2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1 Timothy 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.