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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.
I do know that Peter (the first pope ) was married.
Matthew 8:14 mentions Jesus healing his mother in law.
St. Patrick’s father Calpornius, was a deacon, his grandfather Potitus, a priest.
There is record of a number of 3rd-century married bishops in good standing, even in the Latin speaking West. They included: Passivus, bishop of Fermo; Cassius, bishop of Narni; Aetherius, bishop of Vienne; Aquilinus, bishop of Évreux; Faron, bishop of Meaux; Magnus, bishop of Avignon. Filibaud, bishop of Aire-sur-l’Adour, was the father of St. Philibert de Jumièges, and Sigilaicus, bishop of Tours, was the father of St. Cyran of Brenne.
Furthermore,
Saint Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers (315–68), a Doctor of the Church, was a married bishop and had a daughter named Apra, who was baptized together with her father, when he and his wife became Christians.
Among Popes of the 4th, 5th and 6th centuries, the father of Pope Damasus I (366–84) was a bishop.
Pope Felix III (483–92), whose father was almost certainly a priest, was the great-great-grandfather of Pope Gregory I the Great (590–604).
Pope Hormisdas (514–23) was the father of Pope Silverius (536–37)
We don't claim otherwise. There are married priests in the Eastern Catholic church, and a few married priests in the West (converts from Protestantism). If it were "a requirement from Jesus himself," no exceptions could be allowed.
Jesus chose many people, both men and women, to be disciples. He chose 12 men to be His Apostles only one of whom had been, at one time, married. Apparently you don't know the difference between a disciple and an Apostle.
I believe St.Paul first argued that men of the cloth live a single life.
You would be quite mistaken.
But clearly it was not from Jesus.
"Who said to them: All men take not this word, but they to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs, who were born so from their mother's womb: and there are eunuchs, who were made so by men: and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take it." Matthew 19:11-12(emphasis added)
St. Paul's instructions in 1 Corinthians were inspired by Almighty God thus your incorrect claim that "it was not from Jesus" is moot.
If Catholics were truly being sincere in their rational(sic) of celibacy, they would admit it was not a requirement from Jesus himself.
If you were truly sincere you'd admit that while unintentionally exposing your ignorance of Scripture you've shown everyone that you're ill-equipped to be discussing this topic with any semblance of credibility.
It came a couple of hundred years later
Incorrect.
Too bad we can't get a time machine and bring Jesus Christ to give his(sic) opinion on the matter... Me thinks he(sic) would say something that would stun Church leaders.
We've already got His words on the subject and we've also got St. Peter's as well, which you've apparently never read either.
"And account the longsuffering of our Lord, salvation; as also our most dear brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, hath written to you: As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction." 2 Peter 3:15-16