Why do Catholic priests have to remain celibate?

Answer 1

To show that they are "married" to God.

It's a sacrifice of earthly & desires of the flesh.

A way to say" God I don't need these things as long as I have you. You are my main focus; not man"

Answer 2

First, Judeo-Christian tradition has always held that single people be celibate. This is taught by Judaism and Christianity from before the Scriptures were written down.

The question should be: Why can't priests marry?

This idea came from the Jews, John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Apostle Paul.

The Jews. The Talmud argues that a person whose “soul is bound up with the Torah and is constantly occupied with it” may remain celibate (Maimonides, Laws of Marriage 15.3). This argument could certainly have been based on the biblical example of Jeremiah, a celibate prophet who was ordered by Yahweh not to marry (Jeremiah 16:1-4). Moreover, the Essenes was a group that was active in Jesus’ time that practiced celibacy and thought by most scholars to be the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

John the Baptist and Jesus are both believed to have been celibate for their entire lives. Some scholars believe that either or both Jesus and John the Baptist were influenced in their celibacy by the example of the Essenes.

The Apostle Paul is explicit about his celibacy (see 1 Cor. 7). There is also evidence in the gospel of Matthew for the practice of celibacy among at least some early Christians, in the famous passage about becoming “eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:12).

The concept took many twists and turns over the years and will probably take a few more before Christ returns in glory.

With love in Christ.

Answer 3

I read a newspaper article that said something like, originally, priests did NOT have to remain celibate, but there was some complication with the church involving priests passing their land and possessions on to their sons and there was some kind of issue with that... I don't remember the details, but that was the original reason. Nowadays most people maintain the belief because they think it allows priests to devote themselves completely to God and not to worldy desires or whatever. I think the rule is completely wrong, however, and originally it came about for political/social reasons anyway. Everyone should be allowed to find love and have a family, no matter who they are. And the celibacy thing, I think, is one of the main reasons so many priests end up sexually abusing young boys.
Furthermore, I personally am convinced that the Catholic Church just makes up and takes back rules whenever they feel like it. I mean, it was only sometime in the 1980s that they "officially" decided that it was okay to say that the earth revolves around the sun and not the other way around, and they apologized to Galileo for putting him under house arrest for his entire life. A bit late, I think. But perhaps that particular comment belongs in the science or philosophy section :-)

Answer 4

It's something that the catholic church decided was a good idea, but it clearly is not. It is in no way a bible teaching, in fact 1 timothy 4:1-5 shows that god does not agree with celibacy and 1 corinthians 9:5 shows that some of the apostles were married, if celibacy was a requirement then the apostles should definitely not have been married.

Answer 5

Somewhere in one of Paul's letters, he says that, if the person can do it without sinning, then they should not marry but give their lives to God. From the looks of things, the Catholic Church may want to make this a voluntary thing so that priests can either marry or not depending on their self-control, will, whatever.

Answer 6

If you keep up with the news you will see that a lot of them do not follow the rules. The church has spent many millions in hush money over the past twenty years to protect their wandering priests.

Why would they look outside the church , that what the nuns and alter boys are recruited to do.

Answer 7

The root of the difference comes from Catholics and Protestants having different 'Bibles'.(As we presently see it in this country), priests (and nuns scriptural authority Wisdom 3:13) are to be basically married to God.

Answer 8

It's in reference to the writings of Paul. Married people have to separate their devotion between their spouse and God. Celibate people can focus all of their devotion on God and thus not be divided.

Also, it's in following the example of Jesus, who was the prime example of celibacy, unless you believe the Da Vinci Code crap.

Answer 9

clergymen are human beings. they proceed to be celebate the comparable way that individuals can. yet they weren't continually clergymen. There are clergymen who've had intercourse, in the past they grew to alter into clergymen, clergymen that sin, like something human beings, and clergymen who persist with all the Church teachings this way. i'm specific there are no clergymen who've never had intercourse or masturbated. they only artwork to regulate themselves, as yet another poster reported, like single Christian adult men, Buddist clergymen, and others who chosen a confusing religious course. EDIT: For an exciting priest look on the existence of St. Augustine who famously confessed "God grant my chastity and continence, yet no longer yet."

Answer 10

years ago they didn't.
they could be married and have children.
the 'problem' came about when priests were leaving the homes that the church purchased for them to their families when they died. the church decided it didn't want to buy these families homes so they now cannot be married and must live with other priests in a home provided by the church.

Answer 11

The stated intent was that they are married to Jesus/the church and that their energies in managing the flock would be compromised if they had to maintain a family as well. It sounds good but I also suspect it has to do with a negative perception of sex.