2006-10-30 19:51:08 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
They are man made rules.
2006-10-30 19:55:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
That's not exactly true. There are married priests in the eastern rites of the Catholic Church (Byzantine, Armenian, etc. which are in full communion with Rome) but not in the largest, Latin rite. Clerical celibacy has always been regarded as a virtue, for the reasons that it promotes detachment from the material world, is an expression of devotion, and an imitation of both Christ and life in Heaven. However, it was made obligatory in medieval times in the Latin rite in order to combat the widespread practice of bishops and priests passing their positions to down to their children.
2006-10-31 04:00:03 · answer #2 · answered by Langur Girl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've read all of the prior answers and I, too have heard that it's so they can devote all their time and energies to God, church and duties but this is something I've never understood. We were meant to be paired and mated. Our bodies were designed to create life. Male and female joining to create a third. We were given physical desires so that sex would be pleasurable in order for us to want to have sex. The more we have sex the greater the chances of creating life. I don't believe in the Bible but the Bible teaches that one of the priorities is to create life. Adam and Eve were told to go forth and multiply. Noah was told to gather two of every animal, male and female, to re-populate the earth after the flood so why would the Catholic church encourage and condone celibacy? I think that's why so many priests molest children. If priests (and nuns while I'm at it) were married then they would have a legal and moral way to expend sexual urges and be living their lives according to God's will.
2006-10-31 11:26:00 · answer #3 · answered by Mollywobbles 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, it's not true that priests are not allowed any relationships. Priests have many solid relationships with friends, family members, parishioners, and so on. "Relationship" doesn't always mean the sexual ones.
In remaining celibate and unmarried, priests give their lives totally to Christ, to His Church, and to the Church's people.
Priestly celibacy, contrary to the claims of anti-Catholic fundamentalist Protestants, is entirely Biblical.
Jesus speaks of those who "make themselves eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom" and encourages (but not requires) those who can live such a life to do so.
St. Paul writes of the benefits of celibacy several times in the New Testament -- he himself was single, and he exhorted those who could handle celibacy (especially church leaders) to do the same.
"The married man concerns himself with this world and with pleasing his wife," St. Paul wrote, " while the single man concerns himself with pleasing the Lord."
While not denigrating marriage in this verse, Paul tells us that those who remain single and celibate are in a unique and ideal position to serve the Lord and the Church in a very direct, "full time" sort of way.
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2006-10-31 04:07:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is a matter of discipline. If you want to marry dont become a priest...no one is forced to be a priest, therefore not forced to be celibate. Those who wish to become priests are asked to renounce sex for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Those who renounce sex for the sake of the Kingdom of God are praised for this in Mt. 19:12. In 1 Cor 7:32-35 St. Paul strongly recommends celibacy for all fulltime ministers.
There are exceptions to this. If a preacher from another religion who is married becomes Catholic, he can become a priest and remain married to his wife.
God bless,
Stanbo
2006-10-31 04:04:35 · answer #5 · answered by Stanbo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It started in the 13th or 14th century. Because many people, when they died, left their land etc, to the priests, thinking it would stay with the church, instead, the priests would leave it in their wills to their sons. So the Pope decreed that priests should not marry, therefore any land left to them would remain within the church.
This is only a rough memory, but I believe it is about right.
2006-10-31 03:58:45 · answer #6 · answered by Labsci 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Priest when ordain take a vow of celibacy. There are no Catholic priest that do not take this vow.
See article 1579-1580 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
2006-10-31 03:57:10 · answer #7 · answered by J. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not Catholic, but I've been told this.
In order for a Priest to be able to fully dedicated his life to serving God, he would have way fewer problems if he didn't have to be responsible for a wife and family at the same time.
Somebody would get ignored, and we all know what happens to kids when they are ignored by their dad.
I think it is a pretty good idea myself, but I'm sure their are plenty of men who serve God full time who are able to manage both.
2006-10-31 03:57:25 · answer #8 · answered by nancy jo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are "married" to the church. The duties of the priesthood make the additional obligations of a spouse and family untenable and act as obstacles to the performance of a priests duties.l
2006-10-31 03:53:49 · answer #9 · answered by brunchbuddy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe it is called Celibacy... the priests live in celibate lives which means without family or children so that they can devote themselves to God and the church therefore, they will be more efficient in delivering God's message to the people....Ã
2006-10-31 04:00:20 · answer #10 · answered by *fairy_princessÜ 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They follow the tradition of the disciples of Christ, so that the children may come unto them and be happy.
2006-10-31 03:56:24 · answer #11 · answered by Grist 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋