Yes, it is Apostolic, but it is not Dogma. To be honest, I have a difficult time finding a
First of all, priestly celibacy is a venerable tradition (small-t, that is) and, as such, I defend it and respect it as a great facet of the Catholic faith.
However, I am a historian as well as an adult convert to Catholicism and I’m fully aware the priestly celibacy, while ancient (even apostolic) in roots, was not universal in practice in the Western Church for many centuries. On the one hand, I appreciate the defence and preservation of priestly celibacy, but I also think that the Church should consider letting the practice be a personal decision instead of a mandate. I think there would be great value in allowing married men to seek ordination.
Theologically and dogmatically, marriage and ordination are not mutually exclusive, as attested by the many married men who’ve received a papal dispensation from the vow of celibacy and ordained as priests in the past century.
Let me be clear: I DO NOT support allowing already-ordained priests to marry (this has never been allowed in the Church, East or West -— married men have often been ordained, but ordained priests have never been allowed to marry after ordination). And I certainly DO NOT support the ordination of women. The Church has spoken definitively on the subject of women’s ordination and rightly declared it to be a modern invention devoid of Apostolic or Scriptural basis.
Just my two cents on the matter at hand...
Sorry... that second sentence was supposed to read: “To be honest, I have a difficult time finding a comfortable position on this because I see the great value of a celibate clergy, but I also know that there can be great value in married clergy as well. Rome has spoken on the matter and allowed both (although, I know, married clergy are the exception to the rule).
The Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches allow for married priests. And while this remedies certain problems, it creates new ones.
Speaking to the 11th General Synod Fathers, gathered for their eighth meeting this morning (October 15, 2005) at the Vatican, Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, who is Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites in Lebanon--a Catholic rite which allows for married priests--addressed the issue, which has been brought up by many, particularly in light of the U.S. sex abuse scandal, of commonly permitting married priests in the Roman rite.">
Vatican City, Oct. 07, 2005 (CNA) - The Cardinal defended the practice of the celibate priesthood and discussed the beauty of the tradition, calling it the "most precious jewel in the treasury of the Catholic Church."
While pointing out that "the Maronite Church admits married priests" and that "half of our diocesan priests are married", the Cardinal Patriarch said that "it must be recognized that if admitting married men resolves one problem, it creates others just as serious."
"A married priest", he said, "has the duty to look after his wife and family, ensuring his children receive a good education and overseeing their entry into society. ... Another difficulty facing a married priest arises if he does not enjoy a good relationship with his parishioners; his bishop cannot transfer him because of the difficulty of transferring his whole family.
He noted that "married priests have perpetuated the faith among people whose difficult lives they shared, and without them this faith would no longer exist."
"On the other hand," he said, "celibacy is the most precious jewel in the treasury of the Catholic Church,"
Lamenting a culture which is all but outright opposed to purity, the Cardinal asked: "How can [celibacy] be conserved in an atmosphere laden with eroticism? Newspapers, Internet, billboards, shows, everything appears shameless and constantly offends the virtue of chastity."
Suggesting that their are no easy solutions to the problem of priest shortages in the Church--an oft brought up point during the Synod--he noted that, "Of course a priest, once ordained, can no longer get married. Sending priests to countries where they are lacking, taking them from a country that has many, is not the ideal solution if one bears in mind the question of tradition, customs and mentality. The problem remains." - Source
As for the history of priestly celibacy, I believe you will find extensive background information at this link - The Church's Most Precious Gem
This discussion surfaces periodically here on FR. The following article was written by a former Lutheran pastor who was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in 1999.
Married Priests Back Celibacy (Part 1 of 2)
Let's not forget 1 Cor. 7:32-33, 38 where Paul recommends celibacy for full-time ministers in the Church so that they are able to focus entirely upon God and building up His kingdom. He “who refrains from marriage will do better.”