[Campion]

It is a statement of what some historians have stated concerning the idea of priestly celibacy. If what the Durants say is true, it seems to me that if the Pope says something is so, then he can also say that it is "un-so".

Will Durant is very far from balanced in his view of the Church. The real origin of priestly celibacy is far more complex and nuanced (and *older*) than he admits. As a counterbalance, I'm told that a good book is Christian Conchini, SJ's Apostolic Origins of Priestly Celibacy. (I haven't read it.)

What you say is true, that celibacy is a discipline that could be ended by papal edict. However, there are many good reasons for keeping it.

[BLASTER 14]

Whatever you say. Like I said, I'm certainly not antiCatholic, however Durant is not the only historian to make this point.

Being a Protestant it is a moot point to me, but I've got to say that celibacy seems to me to be unnatural, priest or layman. If I've offended you, I'm truly sorry.