[Campion]

The Bible doesn't exactly say that Peter was married, it just indicates that he had a mother-in-law. It is within the realm of possibility that he was a widower who was still close to his MiL.

However, where the Bible is silent, tradition is not. Tradition says that Peter had a wife and a daughter who went with him to Rome.

The evidence points both directions in the case of St. Paul. Paul clearly teaches in 1 Cor 7 that celibacy is superior to marriage as far as serving the Lord is concerned. Have you read it?

Almost all commentators agree that John the Evangelist was celibate.

Of course, what was common by way of concession in the early church is not necessarily the discipline that would be expected 2000 years later. See my post above.

[shotgun]

Was there a lack of eligible women in those days? Just a question.

[Renfrew]

“St. Paul. Paul clearly teaches in 1 Cor 7 that celibacy is superior to marriage”

St Paul’s teaching is very accurate:
* It would be best if folk could be celibate like himself
* For most men celibacy is not compatible with human nature

If more Catholics had read and understood what Paul was saying here they could have avoided the mess they got the church into.