5 Arguments Against Priestly Celibacy and How to Refute Them

Catholic Educators Network ^

[NYer]

This article originally appeared in the CRISIS Magazine e-Letter. It is printed with permission.

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[NYer]

We've all heard them, now you rationally explain them away.

[Anti-MSM]

1 Timothy 3:1-4: "This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop,he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,[b] but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence."

[Conservative til I die]

These are all good arguments. On the other hand, the arguments against celibacy, in my opinion, always seem to come off as inherently illogical.

[Conservative til I die]

1 Timothy 3:1-4: "This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop,he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,[b] but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence."

Celibacy does not go against this verse. All it says is that a bishop cannot be the husband of more than wife (adultery, divorce, etc.). Since early times both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches have chosen celibacy for the position of Bishop. Never mind that there are several verses that cite celibacy as the ideal life and that celibacy is merely a discipline, and not dogma.

[stm]

I have been Catholic my entire life and I for one am all for letting Catholic Priests marry. Personally I think it's a concept that is long overdue.

It is a double standard to permit married Lutheran and Episcopal priests to convert to Catholicism but not permit our priests to marry.

[Anti-MSM]

Celibacy does not go against this verse. All it says is that a bishop cannot be the husband of more than wife (adultery, divorce, etc.). Since early times both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches have chosen celibacy for the position of Bishop. Never mind that there are several verses that cite celibacy as the ideal life and that celibacy is merely a discipline, and not dogma.

I certainly agree that there is nothing wrong with living a celibate life. It is commended by Paul for those who can. However, I don't think this should exclude married men from being church leaders. As I read the Bible (1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1), I think both single and married men are eligible. I also think numerous Protestant denominations that are now allowing women and, in a few cases, practicing homosexuals, are deviating from God's intent for church leadership, and their disobedience is to their own detriment.

[BipolarBob]

I don't see it as a scriptural REQUIREMENT to be a priest (pastor or rabbi). I can see it being encouraged, but not mandated. I believe this is a manmade commandment. I can certainly see some disadvantages to being married and in the priesthood but not insurmountable. I don't believe the figures quoted for sexual misconduct because they should approximate the pool of the general public. The cover-ups that we know about hint the figures are much higher.

[NYer]

It is a double standard to permit married Lutheran and Episcopal priests to convert to Catholicism but not permit our priests to marry.

It is not quite as simple as you seem to think. I am a Roman Catholic practicing my faith in an Eastern Catholic Church. Our pastor is bi-ritual (Maronite and Latin) and celibate. Following the election of Benedict XVI, someone asked if he thought this pope might open the Latin Church to a married priesthood. His response was quite illuminating.

In a nutshell, he described the process in the Maronite Church for those married men who seek to become priests. It is quite lengthy and entails great scrutiny of the man, his wife, children and their marriage. There can be no room for scandal resulting from divorce. He went on to describe the challenges faced by the married priests, once assigned to parishes. Their wives and children are scrutinized by parishioners. Then there are the costs associated with supporting the priest and his family. Our pastor pointed to the number of parishes closing in this country from lack of funds. If the Church can't financially support a celibate priest, how could afford all the expenses needed for the wife and kids.

Recently, I posted a thread written by a Lutheran pastor who converted to the Catholic faith. He essentially supported the celibate priesthood, describing the times he couldn't attend the kids' concerts, sports games, etc. His family meant a lot to him and it was a tremendous challenge to divide his time between the needs of his parishioners and those of his family.

There's an old expression: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

[NYer]

I certainly agree that there is nothing wrong with living a celibate life. It is commended by Paul for those who can. However, I don't think this should exclude married men from being church leaders.

The Latin priest, and many of the Eastern Catholic priests, model their lives on Jesus Christ, who was celibate.

"His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with [his] wife, it is not good to marry. But he said unto them, All [men] cannot receive this saying, save [they] to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from [their] mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive [it], let him receive [it]." - Matthew 19:10-12

Though it is not "forbidden" for the clergy to marry in the Christian religion, it is strongly recommended that one does not marry, if one is to be a priest or minister. I have read how Protestant minister's families have interfered in their religious duties. A Catholic priest does not have these concerns and can give God's work first priority.

[Anti-MSM]

I have read how Protestant minister's families have interfered in their religious duties. A Catholic priest does not have these concerns and can give God's work first priority.

Well, I agree that there are Protestant ministers that are not necessarily following the leadership qualifications. Because in addition to saying "the husband of one wife", the passages in 1 Timothy 3 (as well as Titus 1) indicate that they need to be "one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)."

[Conservative til I die]

Celibacy does not go against this verse. All it says is that a bishop cannot be the husband of more than wife (adultery, divorce, etc.). Since early times both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches have chosen celibacy for the position of Bishop. Never mind that there are several verses that cite celibacy as the ideal life and that celibacy is merely a discipline, and not dogma. I certainly agree that there is nothing wrong with living a celibate life. It is commended by Paul for those who can. However, I don't think this should exclude married men from being church leaders. As I read the Bible (1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1), I think both single and married men are eligible.

Well, that's a valid opinion, and at this point we'd really just have to agree to disagree. And don't take that is me ducking the argument. It's just that clerical celibacy is a discpline rather than dogma, which means it really is open for debate.

However, it's not going to change in the Western Church anytime soon, only because it so much of a tradition in our Church, that to change things on a dime really would create a lot of questions, problems, and issues. The Eastern Churches and the "high" Protestant churches like the Anglicans and Lutherans are set up to accomodate a married priesthood based on their own long-standing traditions.

[Kolokotronis]

NYer, this is one of the silliest series arguments I've ever seen for priestly celebacy. There are only two arguments which have any validity at all.

1. The vocation of celebacy is the crown jewel of The Church

2. Its just the way history worked out in the Latin Church (which is a variation on the Orthodox and Eastern Rite Churches in communion with Rome knowing what they are doing with a married priesthood and Rome neither does nor would).

Bottom line, this stuff always leaves me feeling that the real reason the Latin Church won't have a married priesthood is that you people in the pews simply won't pay for it and Rome as a practical matter can't.

[NYer]

Maybe someone is torn between RCC leadership and a family, they shouldn't be forced to choose between the two. In my estimation they'd be better off taking the family

They are not 'forced' or coerced. Celibacy is a choice. It is a discipline; not dogma. Those who choose it do so out of love for Christ and the people they serve. It is based in Scripture. Christ was celibate, as was St. Paul. Why must everything be based on sexuality? I am celibate and haven't died from it .. yet ;-).

[A.A. Cunningham]

Corrupted text. As only one example, "must" wasn't in the original.

[red irish]

A few years ago I tuned into the 700 club and they were talking about how pastors were leaving their churches and why. Those pastors were leaving about 1500 a month across the board of different faiths. The wives were tired of never being good enough for the parishioners. and always being second to what was needed for the church. The pastors were always being asked for loyalty for one or the other. And then there was the divorce thing. Cheating on each other because both were always lonely. It was so sad to hear all these stories. In todays cultural marriage is not treated as something sacred. Sex is the new idol to worship in many diverse situations. Right now the church has enough to deal with without throwing anymore problems into the mix. If we the people led more holy lives maybe there would be more priests who wanted to serve God and lead holy lives. You see sin has a place in all of this.

[Kolokotronis]

I agree with everything you wrote. Of course sin is implicated in all of this. In Orthodoxy we don't have a divorce rate among our priests at anything approaching the Western averages, but everytime one occurs it is major news and a major disgrace. The society of priests' wives of the GOA is very conscious of the stresses faced by the families of priests. But I must tell you, I don't see those stresses as being anything more, and usually far less, than those experienced by the wives/husbands and families of any busy 21st century professional.

Current Western attitudes towards marriage are the real problem. For years I have made it a practice to with some regularity read +John Chrysostomos' XX Homily on Ephesians. It is one of the finest, if not the finest, piece ever written on Christian marriage and keeps me on a straight track in my own 28 year marriage.

[Salvation]

Excellent posot!

[Salvation]

We've talked and talked about this issue:

Pope Defends Clergy Celibacy Order
Has the Time Come to Consider Making Celibacy Truly Optional In the Western Church?
Catholic Scandals: A Crisis for Celibacy?
Celibacy of the priesthood is a church strength, not a liability
Celibacy s history of power and money

Pope: Priests Must Stay Celibate
Giving Thanks for the Good Shepherds ( A Defense of Priestly Celibacy)
Don't end celibacy for priests
The celibate superhero
Priestly Celibacy And Its Roots In Christ

How to Refute Arguments Against Priestly Celibacy
Priestly Celibacy Reflects Who - and Whose - We Are[Father George W.Rutler]
Celibacy
Tracing the Glorious Origins of Celibacy
God’s call to celibacy for the sake of His Kingdom - by Card. George

Vatican Says Celibacy Rule Nonnegotiable
Bishop Attacks Move to End Celibacy
A response to Fr. Joseph Wilson's defense of mandatory celibacy
The gift of Priestly celibacy as a sign of the charity of Christ, by Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Archbishop Dolan:"We Need to Be Renewing Our Pledge to Celibacy, Not Questioning It"

Celibacy is gift cherished by church
Celibacy Will Save the Priesthood
Celibacy Defended by EWTN's Fr. Levis
Call To Action: Dump Celibacy
The (Catholic) Church Has Always Prospered When Celibacy Is Honored

John Paul II Hails "Inestimable Value" of Priestly Celibacy
For Priests, Celibacy Is Not the Problem
Fr. Shannon Collins Discusses Celibacy
5 Arguments Against (Catholic) Priestly Celibacy and How to Refute Them
Why A Married Priesthood Won't Remedy the Priest Shortage

New Vatican Document on Homosexuality and the Priesthood Coming Before Fall 2005
Catholic priests demand the right to marry
Catholic priests urge Church to reconsider celibacy rules
Alternative Priests´ Council Hits Back on Mandatory Celibacy
Married Priests? The English Experience

Saying Yes to God: a Look into Vocations
New Vatican Document to Eliminate 1961 Papal Ban on Ordaining Homosexuals
Saying Yes to God: a Look into Vocations
Is it time to ordain married men to the Catholic priesthood?
40% of Scots priests want end to celibacy

A small, sturdy band of 'John Paul priests'(JPII legacy of conservative priests)
Yes, Gay Men Should Be Ordained
Cardinal says Priests will marry
Fathers, Husbands and Rebels: Married Priests
An Unneeded Headache (Vatican document on [NOT] admitting homosexual to the priesthood)

Vatican Prepares Draft Directives Against Admitting Gays as Priests
From Anglican to married Catholic priest
Spain gets first married priest
Spain (R) Catholic Church ordains first married priest
The Catholic Church - East-West Difference Over Priestly Celibacy

ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF SCRANTON TO RECEIVE FIRST ECUSA PRIEST
Defending Chastity in the Priesthood
Ordination of married men is raised at Vatican synod
Patriarch of Venice deemphasizes ordination of married men to the priesthood
Cardinal Pell: Ending Celibacy Rule Would Be a Blunder

Priest shortage stems from crisis of faith, ignorance of the infinite, not celibacy, say Bishops [at Synod]
Synod Affirms Priestly Celibacy
Married Priests Aren’t the Answer (a seminarian states his view)
5 Arguments Against Priestly Celibacy and How to Refute Them