[gbcdoj]

Scripture is also very clear about unmarried MEN being better fit to serve God.

"For this cause I left thee in Crete: that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and shouldest ordain priests in every city, as I also appointed thee: If any be without crime, the husband of one wife. having faithful children, not accused of riot or unruly." Epistle of St. Paul to St. Titus 1.5-6

"It behoveth therefore a bishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, of good behaviour, chaste, given to hospitality, a teacher" First Epistle of St. Paul to St. Timothy 3:2

Yep. Just look at how St. Paul tells SS. Titus and Timothy to ordain only celibate men to the priesthood...

Mandatory celibacy is a post-apostolic innovation which was considered and rejected by the Council of Nicaea (cf. Socrates Scholasticus Ecclesiastical History I, XI ). It certainly is not required by Scripture.

[american colleen]

It strikes me that St. Paul wrote and preached with the belief that he would see the second coming - hence, even though he believed an unmarried state was preferable to the married state, he needed leaders regardless. The Christian population was pretty small at that time and it was chaotic.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Mandatory celibacy is a post-apostolic innovation which was considered and rejected by the Council of Nicaea

Incorrect. Paul's instruction to Timothy and Titus was not an absolute. What it was was an instruction not to pick men who were divorced or remarried widowers. Refer to Canons XXVII and XXXIII of the Council of Elvira, 295-302 AD. Also, from the Council of Carthage, 390 AD, regarding celibacy and the discipline of lex continentiae: "ut quod apostoli docuerunt, et ipsa servavit antiquitas nos quoque custodiamus". Which translated reads "What the apostles taught and what antiquity itself observed, let us also continue."

Suggest you read Cochini's "The Apostolic Origins of Preistly Celibacy" for some much needed edification.

[AAABEST]

You're post a non-sequiter. I stated that scripture tells us it is BETTER for servants of the Lord than those who are married.

1 Corinthians
32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.