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>> Paul was not married. And, for all we know, the only apostle who ever married was Peter and that was before he met our Lord. Paul even goes on to make a case for preferring celibacy to marriage: “Are you free from a wife? Do not seek marriage. . . those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. . .

On the other hand, for all we know, the only apostle that was not married was Paul. If celibacy were that important, I would think that more of a point would be made to show the celibacy of all of Christ’s disciples (or all but Peter). Other than Perer’s mother-in-law and Paul’s “gift of celibacy”, it never comes up.

A lack of information does not an argument make. Job was married. Peter was married. Noah was married. Moses was married. God created marriage because, in His estimation, “it is not good for man to be alone”. I personally think marriage is good and necessary, even for clergy.

SnakeDoc

To understand celibacy we must first understand the most basic fact of our sexuality—that is, we are created male and female. Thus our sexuality is primarily a matter of being, not behavior. Celibacy bears witness to this truth in a preeminent way.

Celibacy and marriage are not two competing vocations but are dependent upon and elevate one another. It is not by coincidence that in times of crisis for marriage (such as our present time in which the divorce rates are astronomical) are also times of crisis for consecrated celibacy.

Although celibacy is objectively superior to marriage, it does not diminish the goods of marriage. In fact, celibacy elevates the good of marriage. It is a superiority that totally gives itself for the good of marriage. It also makes itself dependent on the good of marriage for its life. This interdependence of marriage and celibacy is not only spiritual but physical as well. After all, in order for a person to be able to embrace celibate love he has to be created, and the way God creates man is through the marital embrace. In this light, it is not by mistake that the family is seen as the source of priestly and religious vocations.

Even though celibacy is the objectively superior state, this does not mean that it is for everyone. Our Lord makes this very clear when he says, "Not all men can accept this precept, but only those to whom it is given. . . . There are those who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to receive this let him receive it" (Matt. 19:11–12).

If celibacy were that important, I would think that more of a point would be made to show the celibacy of all of Christ’s disciples (or all but Peter). Other than Perer’s mother-in-law and Paul’s “gift of celibacy”, it never comes up.

Incorrect.

Thanks for playing "I'm ignorant of Scripture!"