The biblical basis for this is as follows.
The Roman Catholic Church demands celibacy--no voluntary sexual pleasure, hence, no marriage--as a prerequisite to the order of presbyter.
The primary basis for the requirement of celibacy is clearly the lifestyle example of Jesus himself.
The Church notes that the practice is sanctioned by the New Testament.
The law of celibacy has no doctrinal bearing in the Catholic Church--it is a mere disciplinary law. Even today, there are married Catholic priests in the United States. Each is a former Episcopalian priest who joined the Catholic Church. There are Uniate Churches, churches in union with Rome, e.g., the Greek Byzantine Church, who have a married clergy.
Priestly celibacy became law in the Roman Church in the 6th century.
In a practical sense, a priest enencumbered by a wife, children, mortgage, orthodontist payments, etc. can better attend to his flock. He can devote himself entirely to his calling. This choice is freely made by those men who feel 'called' to the priesthood.
Quote: In a practical sense, a priest enencumbered by a wife, children, mortgage, orthodontist payments, etc. can better attend to his flock. He can devote himself entirely to his calling. This choice is freely made by those men who feel 'called' to the priesthood.
I am a Catholic and think this is a bunch of bull. How do the other faiths get along with allowing their pastors to marry??
Being a Protestant, I'm not going to criticize the Catholic religion for their wanting their clergy to remain celibate and unmarried. Just a couple of observations.
First, being our clergy are allowed to be married I feel because they have the same problems in marriage that their congregational members have, they can understand these problems and are better able to give guidance based on actual experience.
Secondly, and this problem is not restricted to the Catholic church, but does appear to be more prevalent (could be the press just makes a bigger deal of it) but the sexual abuse of young children that are in their congregations. Could marriage of the clergy lower these instances. I can't answer that, but when you look at publicized cases maybe it would. I do believe the actions of these priests reflects unfavorably on the Catholic religion and it shouldn't. The actions of a few shouldn't reflect on the majority who are God fearing people.
There is also a movement by the Feminist to allow married Priests. This is a back door way into allowying Female Catholic Priests and Homoexual Priests. If the church allows Priests to marry, the Feminist feel they would have a foot in the door of the Cathedral to justify Female Priests.
you can go to the following URL and fins many books and studies that have been done on this subjecy. It really is facinating reading. The Feminist and Homosexual movements have historically been behind this "Married Priest" movement. For centuries they have failed and continue to fail even under Vatican II and the Novous Ordo priests.
http://www.catholic.org/phpframedirect/out.php?url=http://library.catholic.org/plweb-cgi/fastweb?TemplateName=views.tmpl
Yes, but to be a Christian group, should not one use the entire Bible, not just a few verses here and there? Shall we not also include verses making it clear that a man who chooses to minsiter to people in the name of God, should be married?
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 3:1-13)
"This choice is freely made by those men who feel 'called' to the priesthood."
Therein lies the problem, 'men who feel' "called", rather than men who are called.