St. Paul was celibate. In the New Testament it talks as if it is a gift from God . . . don't ask for Chapter and verse . ..
That being said, I have read the pope's statement before and it doesn't make sense. Gift to the church? Church??? Or gift from God??? Or both???
Sorry, I don't know how to explain it. If God chooses priests (which I no longer believe), wouldn't He give them the gift of celibacy since it is a requirement of the church.
Maybe someone can put it into words better than I.
That being said, I fail to understand while a protestant can have a problem with celibacy. Protestants didn't used to have a problem with it. Anyone who was single used to be expected to be celibate or marry. My how things have changed.
Just because you no longer believe it doesn't make it any less true, Cafeteria Catholic!
I sincerely doubt he was celibate. He was a brutal man before he turned to Christ.
Sorry, I don't know how to explain it. If God chooses priests (which I no longer believe), wouldn't He give them the gift of celibacy since it is a requirement of the church.God creates all of us and calls all of us to a particular state in life. A vocation. Mine is as a husband and father, the married state. That God has called me to this does not mean He makes me the perfect father or husband. If I am faithful to Him and open to His grace, He will perfect me. But all of us are closed at some times, some more then others. In every group, whether to those with Holy Orders, those married, or those single, there are those that may hear the call well enough to embark on the journey their vocation requires, but stop listening and fall into such a sinful stupor that they no longer hear God’s call, and no longer care to receive His grace. It is not that God does not offer these priests the grace to successfully live a celibate life, it is that they aren’t willing receptacles.
That is free will.
patent +AMDG