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To: fortheDeclaration; blue-duncan
there is no scriptural basis for celibacy among church leadership

I'd agree that there is not enough in the scripture to definitely say that only the celibate may be ordained priests, but married men can be ordained deacons; this is why the priestly celibacy discipline in the Latin West is not a dogma of the Church. There is enough in the scripture to say that married priests may not remarry, this is why it is taught universally east and West. There is enough the scripture to say that celibacy is advisable for men and women of God, this is why the Church East and West has monks and nuns and mandates celibacy for her bishops.

7,613 posted on 06/02/2006 11:36:51 AM PDT by annalex
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To: annalex; blue-duncan
I'd agree that there is not enough in the scripture to definitely say that only the celibate may be ordained priests, but married men can be ordained deacons; this is why the priestly celibacy discipline in the Latin West is not a dogma of the Church. There is enough in the scripture to say that married priests may not remarry, this is why it is taught universally east and West. There is enough the scripture to say that celibacy is advisable for men and women of God, this is why the Church East and West has monks and nuns and mandates celibacy for her bishops.

No, what Paul is saying is that being single is ideal since it allows one to concentrate on working for the Lord without worldy distractions.

That view is not only for the leadership but for all Christians.

Paul, however, makes it clear that if one cannot handle being alone, then one should marry.

As for remarriage, there is nothing against remarriage, Moses was remarried.

The verse means to be the husband of one wife, one at a time, not that if your wife dies you cannot remarry.

These are simply man-made traditions (Mk.7:7)

7,614 posted on 06/02/2006 1:46:05 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration (Am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth? (Gal.4:16))
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