Clerical celibacy has always been a discipline and not a doctrine, although I think it would be a nightmare if the Latin Church allowed married men in great numbers to become priests. Clerical celibacy was one of the things that attracted me to Catholicism because I’m a PK (Preacher’s Kid) and saw too many of my peers lives wrecked because their fathers were busy working for the church (as they should have been) and not raising their families (as they also should have been).
But 95% agreement... you don’t believe in the Immaculate Conception (I think), the perpetual virginity of Mary... do you believe in the Assumption? (What do you do on August 15th, compromise your beliefs and go to Mass anyhow?) You appear to believe that the Bible is the supreme authority in matters of faith, where does that put holy Tradition? How about auricular Confession? Male only ministerial priesthood, the ministerial priesthood period? How do you get to an “orthodox” belief in the Trinity, the 7 Sacraments (especially what the Church teaches about the Eucharist), contraception and Purgatory from the Bible alone? etc, etc, and on and on. To me it all hangs together or it all falls apart.
I’m not running a quiz here to test your orthodoxy, but I am trying to understand how you make it work while being intellectually honest with yourself (which I presume you are).
1) We’ll address the nightmare first. Perhaps you joined the Church after the homosexual/pedophile priest scandal erupted which nearly destroyed our Church. Can’t get much more nightmarish then that. Not saying that clerical celibacy causes homosexual or pedophile behavior, but it certainly helped create an atmosphere attractive to such individuals.
2) The Assumption refers to Mary’s ascent into Heaven after her death. Does not refer to circumstances surrounding her birth.
3) I do believe what is written in the Bible trumps any dogma or doctrine propagated by ANY church. The Catholic Church has every right to formulate its own doctrines, dogmas, rituals, and traditions. But NO church has the right to rewrite the Bible or to rewrite history IMHO.
4) Priests and bishops in the Bible were married men as were priests, bishops, and popes in the early Catholic Church. Mandatory clerical celibacy was not institutionalized in the Church until relatively recently and for reasons which had nothing to do with anything that can be found in the Bible. Celibacy was made a requirement by the Church to combat rampant corruption including nepotism and simony.
Another point....this an analogy...so take it for it what it’s worth. I am a lifelong Republican and will always be one. I believe in nearly everything my Party teaches and just about everything the Party stands for. That does not mean I am a mindless drone who marches in lockstep with the GOP. When I think the Party is wrong on a certain issue or policy I would never hesitate to say so.
Churches like political parties are man made institutions always subject to sin and to error as they are run by humans. Nothing in life is perfect, least of all religious and political organizations. You choose and remain in the ones that closest resemble your views and values. Hence, I will continue to remain both a Catholic and a Republican even if I am not always 100% in agreement.