Is the history of mandatory priestly celibacy really two thousand years old? Or is it more recent than that?
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Great question...
Catholics constantly state their church was the only one founded by Jesus and that Peter was the first Pope. Ok let's say this is true. Jesus selected married men to be his disciples. In fact, many of the early followers of Jesus were married.
I believe St.Paul first argued that men of the cloth live a single life. But clearly it was not from Jesus. Also, I believe St. Augustine argued the same point as St. Paul.
If Catholics were truly being sincere in their rational of celibacy, they would admit it was not a requirement from Jesus himself. It came a couple of hundred years later when the Church became a politcal force and the leader for the majority of western civilization.
Too bad we can't get a time machine and bring Jesus Christ to give his opinion on the matter... Me thinks he would say something that would stun Church leaders.