"Be celibate or leave the priesthood, pope tells gay priests." ¹
"Men whom God has not gifted or called to be celibate (1 Corinthians 7:7) are being required to be celibate, and the result is tremendous failures in the areas of adultery, fornication, and the sexual abuse of children." ²
Who made up the celibate rule and who made up the staying single rule for Church officials?
Celibacy is not a requirement in the Bible. The celibacy rule is from three "pontifical decretals" in AD 385 and a canon of the Council of Carthage of AD 390. Notably, they did not forbid marriage, they only decreed that church officials be celibate within the marriage. Church officials were often married with children.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1579) regarding celibacy only quotes two passages from the New Testament. The first is in Matthew 19:22, where Jesus mentions some men who, 'for the Kingdom of God', became eunuchs. The second is 1 Corinthians 7:32-35,
Today, the Catholic Church has married celibacy and being single for Church officials. The idea was that "the Church is the bride and Christ is the bridegroom." (How that was translated to priests being married to the Church instead of just Jesus being married to the Church is beyond me.) But any actual references to "purity" in the New Testament are not restricted to preachers or to priests. And the reference in Matthew 19:12 about eunuchs, even if it was more broadly interpreted to mean celibacy, is not a requirement.
New Testament passages do not even forbid marriage, they only encouraged remaining single. "In 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:6-9, the Apostle Paul seems to assume that elders, bishops, overseers, and deacons will be married. Notice the phrases “the husband of one wife” (1 Timothy 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6), “he must manage his own family well” (1 Timothy 3:4,12), and “his children obey him with proper respect” (1 Timothy 3:4; Titus 1:6)." ²
In the Catholic Church, a requirement to stay single was added because of problems with nepotism. Unqualified children were being given positions in the church and sometimes were given Church property. ² Most other Christian religions do not have that prohibition. For the Catholic Church, the consequences of that requirement have become obvious.
Today, celibacy for priests is too often interpreted to be a ban on marriage, but they are two different issues, with two different origins, neither of which was required in the Bible.
¹ Be celibate or leave the priesthood, pope tells gay priests
² Does the Bible teach the celibacy of priests?
³ The biblical foundation of priestly celibacy
"Men whom God has not gifted or called to be celibate (1 Corinthians 7:7) are being required to be celibate, and the result is tremendous failures in the areas of adultery, fornication, and the sexual abuse of children." ²
Who made up the celibate rule and who made up the staying single rule for Church officials?
Celibacy is not a requirement in the Bible. The celibacy rule is from three "pontifical decretals" in AD 385 and a canon of the Council of Carthage of AD 390. Notably, they did not forbid marriage, they only decreed that church officials be celibate within the marriage. Church officials were often married with children.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1579) regarding celibacy only quotes two passages from the New Testament. The first is in Matthew 19:22, where Jesus mentions some men who, 'for the Kingdom of God', became eunuchs. The second is 1 Corinthians 7:32-35,
"the Pauline text . . .where the Apostle speaks of those who are called to consecrate themselves with undivided heart to the Lord and 'his affairs'; and adds by way of conclusion that 'embraced with a joyful heart, it (the celibate life) radiantly proclaims the kingdom of God'." ³Celibacy may have been recommended, but it was not required in the Bible.
Today, the Catholic Church has married celibacy and being single for Church officials. The idea was that "the Church is the bride and Christ is the bridegroom." (How that was translated to priests being married to the Church instead of just Jesus being married to the Church is beyond me.) But any actual references to "purity" in the New Testament are not restricted to preachers or to priests. And the reference in Matthew 19:12 about eunuchs, even if it was more broadly interpreted to mean celibacy, is not a requirement.
New Testament passages do not even forbid marriage, they only encouraged remaining single. "In 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:6-9, the Apostle Paul seems to assume that elders, bishops, overseers, and deacons will be married. Notice the phrases “the husband of one wife” (1 Timothy 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6), “he must manage his own family well” (1 Timothy 3:4,12), and “his children obey him with proper respect” (1 Timothy 3:4; Titus 1:6)." ²
In the Catholic Church, a requirement to stay single was added because of problems with nepotism. Unqualified children were being given positions in the church and sometimes were given Church property. ² Most other Christian religions do not have that prohibition. For the Catholic Church, the consequences of that requirement have become obvious.
Today, celibacy for priests is too often interpreted to be a ban on marriage, but they are two different issues, with two different origins, neither of which was required in the Bible.
¹ Be celibate or leave the priesthood, pope tells gay priests
² Does the Bible teach the celibacy of priests?
³ The biblical foundation of priestly celibacy
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