Eastern Catholic priests can marry. Eastern (non-Catholic) churches allow their clerics to marry. A Wiki page titled 'Clerical Marriage' is an interesting read. There are Catholic priests & Bishops with children, who are married. It's generally viewed that the Apostles save Paul were married. The fact that Apostles were married and undoubtedly many of their disciples were married is enough to tell me that "required" celibacy is a man-made requirement.
Eastern Catholic priests cannot marry. Married men may be ordained in the Eastern rite churches.
The fact that Apostles were married and undoubtedly many of their disciples were married is enough to tell me that "required" celibacy is a man-made requirement
This part is probably not easy for you to see...
But the Priest functions "in the Person of Christ" in his Sacramental capacity, as well in an Apostolic context.
We need to look at Christ's life as a model for the Priesthood...
In the order of Melchezidek. And again, look at the Essene Priesthood.
And yes, some Apostles were married when Christ called them.
Move past that. It's not relevant.
Most men and women were married in the early teens upon reaching puberty.
When Christ arrived on the scene most, if not all, were married.
His theology on celibacy changed all that.
St. Paul in a way mimicked that.
And as Far as you claim that a celibate Priesthood is man- made-
You are 100% correct.
And THAT man's name was Jesus.
His thoughts on Celibacy as service to the Kingdom of God are very scriptural.
You don’t think Jesus had some tough rules?
This closing scripture should shed some light for you
on the priority of marriage and sexual conjugation had when it came to ...the sake of the Kingdom of God...
28 And Peter said, “Lo, we have left our homes and followed you.”
29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you,
there is no man who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children,
for the sake of the kingdom of God,
will be repaid many times over in this life,
and will have eternal life in the world to come.” "