God's word at 1Timothy 4:3 says it is wrong to forbid someone to marry and it does not give any exemptions. And I don't want to hear about any vow of celebacy. If a man asked to become a priest but said he also wanted a wife, he would not be allowed in the priesthood. So celebacy is a requirement to become a priest, also forbidden since only married people are allowed to have sexual relations.
2006-08-03 16:19:23 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
because catholics value tradition just as much as they value scripture
2006-08-03 16:26:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
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.
2006-08-04 01:03:11 · answer #2 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a former Catholic. The issue is money. The church could not afford supporting a priest and his family all over the place . Its strange how the Peter who is the supposed model for the Pope had a mother in law and had to be married. If you choose celebricy to honor Christ thats commendable, Jesus says their are those who choose this. Unfortunately, it is not for most men . It is dangerous to surpress the male sex drive.
2006-08-03 23:32:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First I would like to say to Sarah: it is not only Catholic church leaders that have commited those crimes. They are just in the news more often. And also don't make general statements like that. More priests are good than they are bad.
Anyway, I've heard that Catholic priests are meant to represent Jesus. Since Jesus was not married and did not have children, priests can't marry and can't have children. I'm not ENTIRELY sure if that's correct.
2006-08-03 23:29:53 · answer #4 · answered by Liz 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The practical reason is that the requirement of celibacy gets people to work for peanuts and the church doesn't have to pay a "liveable wage."
2006-08-03 23:37:49 · answer #5 · answered by The Invisible Man 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is a matter of Dogma and I think it is crucial for the Catholic church if it wants to survive to remove that restriction.
2006-08-03 23:26:09 · answer #6 · answered by draciron 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is one of the many reasons I dislike the Catholic religion.
They forbid them to marry so they go and rape innocent little boys.
2006-08-03 23:24:54 · answer #7 · answered by Sarah 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
they are supposed to dedicate all of their time and effort to the church. in the bible, it's said that a man must take care of his wife and love her with devotion. therefore, you can't be totally devoted to the church and a wife.
im not even catholic!
2006-08-03 23:23:23 · answer #8 · answered by infernomanor 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that answer was just supid,but better than nothin, i was talkin about the first answer i like the rest
2006-08-03 23:26:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋