Historically inclined as I am, I consider the Catholic Church to be the first Christian Church.
I was raised as a devout Catholic and received all of the sacraments. I was an altar boy in Bangkok at the little military Catholic church that they set up in the movie theater. I graduated from a Catholic high school.
But as I learned more, I found that there was a good reason for the Reformation.
Catholic priests ALWAYS have flouted the celibacy rule - from day one!
I had an epiphany as I sat in the pews of St. Marks in Kenosha in 1977. Something was wrong with this church! I can’t really explain it other than noticing extreme hypocrisy - the priest was giving a homily about caring for the poor, while a majority of people in the pews were obviously boasting about their affluence by wearing expensive clothes - expensive fur coats were in abundance.
OK, I was only 17 and didn’t know much history yet, but I thought something about the current Catholic Church didn’t add up. Something was off.
The feeling was so strong that I never went into a Catholic church - or any church - again. Later, the mother of my children - also a Catholic - also hated the Catholic church - she blamed it for her devoted mother’s suicide. We didn’t attend church, so my children never received the sacraments.
During this time, I read more history, especially about the Catholic Church. And I found out what the meaning of hypocrisy really was.
And then the pedophelia scandals hit the church. I was so glad that I had stayed away from it. My epiphany in 1977 had spared me a lot of grief.
Now I am divorced and dating (my ex and are I are still good friends). My children are grown. Now, I’d much rather go see Dr. Stanley or an Orthodox Russian priest (they can have wives) with my girlfriends than sit through the hypocritical ritual of a Catholic church.
I still believe that the Catholic church is the original Christian church - I just hate what has happened to it - all because of the stupid celibacy rule.
For other church historians out there, how exactly did the celibacy rule come about?
Please see my post #93. The Council of Trent made it "official" for Roman Catholics.
The Founder of the Church, Our Lord Jesus Christ was celibate, that is how.