2006-08-04 00:50:03 · 14 answers · asked by Humdy 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
THey don't live without it - they having it behind the scenes with other men.
2006-08-04 00:52:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
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.
2006-08-04 23:27:02 · answer #2 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The story goes that they are married to the church and that is how it works out. The apostle Paul talks about some people having a gift to celibacy. Such people are better able to serve the Lord.
Clearly, not every priest or nun has the gift of celibacy as we can see in the press.
2006-08-04 09:33:18 · answer #3 · answered by Buzz s 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's probably why they are popes/fathers and we ordinary human beings
2006-08-04 08:00:02 · answer #4 · answered by maxvijay2003 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's because it is a part of their divine calling, to be chaste. They do this also because they imitate Jesus. Because Jesus has no wife or had no 6, the also dont do the "act".
2006-08-04 07:56:04 · answer #5 · answered by blitz2.0 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nuns take vows of chastity - they're not allowed to have sex.
Priests take vows of celibacy - they're not allowed to marry.
2 Different things.
2006-08-04 07:54:33 · answer #6 · answered by gabluesmanxlt 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Need to break that vow of Celibacy thing....just asking for trouble.
2006-08-04 08:53:22 · answer #7 · answered by Aan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, sex is not vital to life, as air and food are. Sex is only important if you want to be sane and have some peace of mind and heart.
Yes, Priest should be marriageable.
2006-08-04 08:04:04 · answer #8 · answered by DinDjinn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The same way married men do.
2006-08-04 07:55:50 · answer #9 · answered by happytraveler 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some of them don't. If you've watched the news you'd know that.
2006-08-04 07:54:28 · answer #10 · answered by Classy Granny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋