Posted on 07/25/2019 1:43:44 PM PDT by ebb tide
Ping
The first written mandate requiring priests to be chaste came in AD 304. Canon 33 of the Council of Elvira stated that all”bishops, presbyters, and deacons and all other clerics” were to”abstain completely from their wives and not to have children.” A short time later, in 325, the Council of Nicea, convened by Constantine, rejected a ban on priests marrying requested by Spanish clerics.
The practice of priestly celibacy began to spread in the Western Church in the early Middle Ages. In the early 11th century Pope Benedict VIII responded to the decline in priestly morality by issuing a rule prohibiting the children of priests from inheriting property. A few decades later Pope Gregory VII issued a decree against clerical marriages.
Eliminating the prospect of marriage had the added benefit of ensuring that children or wives of priests did not make claims on property acquired throughout a priest’s life, which thus could be retained by the church.
It took centuries for the practice of celibacy to become widespread, but it eventually became the norm in the Western Catholic church.
https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2017/03/23/why-catholic-priests-practise-celibacy
I’m not sure how celibacy could be an apostolic tradition when Peter was a married man.
I think this is a bogus argument. Diocesan priests, as distinct from members of a religious order, can will their earthly goods to whomever they wish.
What happened?
Have you abandoned sola scriptura for your own convenience to attack the Catholic Church?
Lets check in with Peter, ‘the first Pope’.
“When Jesus came into Peter’s home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him.” Mt. 8:14,15
Also, what about 1 Tim. 4:3, foretelling prohibition of marriage?
I'm pretty sure you didn't even read the article by your above comment.
Another poster who seems to not have even read the article.
Typical.
No I didn’t, no criticism required. I was just posting on the general topic of priestly celibacy. Respond or not as you wish.
No it's not a bogus argument.
Paul told those who were married not to deprive each other.
“celibate” marriage is not only nonsensical it’s nonbiblical.
Thanks for being honest. I recommend your read the full article before making further comments.
Everything you disagree with is an "attack" on the RCC. Such thin skin.
An appeal to Scripture shows a number of the Apostles were married and that marriage is perfectly fine for the man called to serve God. Even having children is fine.
It is Rome that has abandoned Scripture on this matter.
Maybe we ought to require priest to be married. It may give them a whole new perspective to preach on Hell.
So Bingo, no celibacy for the first 11 centuries of Church history.
Meaning we’ve actually had married Priests for longer than we’ve had celibate ones.
All of a sudden you sola scripturists seem to have jumped ship.
I’m not surprised.
Read the article before you keep putting you foot in your mouth.
Isn’t tradition short hand for
“because we’ll always done it”?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.