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To: Salvation; LibFreeUSA; metmom; redleghunter; Springfield Reformer; kinsman redeemer; BlueDragon; ...
Clerical celibacy was imposed by human beings over 1,000 years after the Birth of Christ. It is not part of the Ten Commandments, nor part of Christ’s teachings, and should have ABSOLUTELY no indictment on whether Christ is our Savior or who gets into Heaven.

Are you saying that you do not believe in Christ? And the choices he made for apostles? Most of them single and celibate!!

What in Catholicism effects such absurd logic and conclusions? Rather than rejecting the requirement of a clerical celibacy meaning a rejection of Christ, the poster correctly states that this is not a part of Christ’s teachings, even though it may be allowed, (Mt. 19:10-12) but which is an exception in Scripture for pastors (1Tim. 3:1-7), and normally presupposes one has that gift, which has holy advantages. (1Co. 7:7,32-34)

And rather than rejecting the choices the Lord made for apostles, with most of them single and celibate, even their street-level leader was married, as were all but two apostles.

And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them. (Luke 4:38-39)

Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? (1 Corinthians 9:5)

They evidently did leave their families for a time in devotion to discipleship and ministry, however this was not permanent, nor was Peter and Barnabas under a vow of celibacy, for they had the power (exousia; liberty: cf. 1 1Co. 8:9) to lead about a wife as the rest of the apostles.

And the requirement of clerical celibacy was indeed a latter development Catholic Dues finds:

Early heretics, such as Manichaeans and Montanists, added a negative influence by proclaiming that sexual expression - including that of the laity - was impure. Catholic leaders, such as St. Augustine, taught that Original Sin was transmitted through intercourse. Therefore, abstinence and virginity was the ideal life and only the weak should marry. However, most bishops and presbyters continued to marry. In fact, the only marriages that had to have any kind of blessing were those of deacons and priests. (p. 168)

The tradition of celibacy continued to evolve. In some places it was expected that priests be not sexually active after ordination. When monastic spirituality became popular in the fourth and fifth centuries, it promoted the ideal of celibacy as a model for all priests.

One way church authority enforced celibacy was by ordaining monks, who took the vow of chastity, to evangelize large areas of Europe. Church authority continued to mandate celibacy. The First Lateran Council (1123-1153) forbade those in orders to marry and ordered all those already married to renounce their wives and do penance. Later legislation declared the marriages of clerics not only illegal but also invalid. Widespread disregard of these laws continued until a reorganization of preparation for priesthood following the Protestant Reformation and the Council of Trent in the 1500's. (Greg Dues, "Catholic Customs & Traditions: A Popular Guide," [1992]; pp. 168,169 )

You therefore owe LibFreeUSA an apology for essentially charging him with not believing in Christ

62 posted on 03/09/2017 8:36:17 PM PST by daniel1212 ( Turn to the Lord Jesus as a damned and destitute sinner+ trust Him to save you, then follow Him!)
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To: daniel1212

Thank you my friend. As a sinner, a follower of Jesus Christ, and a Catholic, I appreciate your thoughtful words of support.


73 posted on 03/10/2017 7:43:22 AM PST by LibFreeUSA
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