2007-01-20 11:53:16 · 12 answers · asked by orange 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Celibacy is a practice recommended for church leaders in the Bible:
+ In Matthew 19:12, Jesus says, "Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it."
Jesus says celibacy is a gift from God and whoever can bear it should bear it. Jesus praises and recommends celibacy for full time ministers in the Church. Because celibacy is a gift from God, those who criticize the Church's practice of celibacy are criticizing God and this wonderful gift He bestows on His chosen ones.
+ In Matthew 19:29, Jesus says, "And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life."
Whoever gives up children for the sake of His name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. Jesus praises celibacy when it is done for the sake of His kingdom.
+ Matthew 22:30 - Jesus explains, "At the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the angels in heaven."
In heaven there are no marriages. To bring about Jesus' kingdom on earth, priests live the heavenly consecration to God by not taking a wife in marriage. This way, priests are able to focus exclusively on the spiritual family, and not have any additional pressures of the biological family (which is for the vocation of marriage). This also makes it easier for priests to be transferred to different parishes where they are most needed without having to worry about the impact of their transfer on wife and children.
+ In 1 Corinthians 7:1, Paul writes, "It is a good thing for a man not to touch a woman."
This is the choice that the Catholic priests of the Roman rite freely make.
+ Then in 1 Corinthians 7:7, Paul says, "Indeed, I wish everyone to be as I am."
Paul acknowledges that celibacy is a gift from God and wishes that all were celibate like he is.
+ In 1 Corinthians 7:27, Paul writes, "Are you free of a wife? Then do not look for a wife."
Paul teaches men that they should not seek marriage. In Paul’s opinion, marriage introduces worldly temptations that can interfere with one’s relationship with God, specifically regarding those who will become full time ministers in the Church.
+ In 1 Corinthians 7:32-33, Paul teaches, "I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife." And in verse 38, "So then, the one who marries his virgin does well; the one who does not marry her will do better."
Paul recommends celibacy for full time ministers in the Church so that they are able to focus entirely upon God and building up His kingdom. He “who refrains from marriage will do better.”
See also
1 Timothy 5:9-12
2 Timothy 2:3-4
Revevation 14:4
Isaiah 56:3-7
Jeremiah 16:1-4
The celibate clergy did not come into full bloom until about 1000 A.D. There were many married priests, bishops, and popes before this time.
Biblical role models of a celibate clergy 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). For example, Yahweh ordered the prophet Jeremiah 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.
WWJD? What would Jesus do? Jesus did not marry.
John the Baptist and Jesus are both believed to have been celibate for their entire lives. Some scholars believe that the example of the Essenes influenced either or both Jesus and John the Baptist in their celibacy.
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.
A priest is "married" to the Church. Some people think that a priest who takes his duties seriously cannot take proper care of a wife and family. "A man cannot serve two masters."
With love in Christ.
2007-01-21 12:47:46 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Catholic priests do not marry because there is far too much work to do in the world -- and in the local parish to be able to tend to both a parish family and an at-home family.
St. Paul says that a man who does not marry has more time to devote to the things of God. He also said that he would wish for men to remain as he is -- which was single. Jesus said that some people were eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom.
I read somewhere that a poll had been done amongst Protestant pastors about whether they would "do it again" have a wife/family and be a pastor.....most said no they wouldn't want both.
As Catholic, I would not support a married priesthood. I want to know that my money is going to support the parish and the poor -- not putting braces on some pastor's kid's teeth or going to college.
That being said the following Catholic men may become priests: Eastern Catholics, widowed men and men who were married priests in the Episcopal Church and ulitmately felt led into full communion with the Church
2007-01-20 12:06:07 · answer #2 · answered by The Carmelite 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some Roman Catholic priests are married - so many, in fact, that some estimates place their number at around 20% of all Roman Catholic priests in the world. This would mean that 20% of all Roman Catholic priests are officially and legally married, even though celibacy continues to be a requirement.
God Bless You
2007-01-20 12:10:20 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contrary to popular belief, the Catholic Church does have some married priests. However, the Catholic Church also wants some priests who are unmarried, because as St. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 7:32-34, "The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord; but the married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided." Thus, the Church selects some men for ordination from among those who choose to be "eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven", as Jesus said in Matthew 19:12.
2007-01-20 12:02:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is due to adulteration of the Word of God that was prophesied. Interesting how the catholic church cannot see themselves in this scripture but it is exactly what the writer was talking about.
1 Tim 4:1-3
4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.
NIV
2007-01-20 12:10:16 · answer #5 · answered by yagman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are in basic terms some clergymen contained in the Catholic Church that are married, one priest i comprehend of grow to be from a various Christian faith then switched over to be Catholic along with his spouse and teenagers. He felt called to the priesthood and asked the pope if he might desire to grow to be a clergyman even nevertheless he grow to be already married with teenagers. The pope reported it grow to be ok, and now he's a clergyman. i do no longer think of that any non secular gets married contained in the Catholic Church because of the fact of their vows they take. and that i don't have self belief there will be any woman clergymen contained in the Catholic church. that's custom to have a male priest, and that's all I actually comprehend without looking it up or speaking to any Catholic Clergy.
2016-10-07 11:36:47 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For a long time, priests were allowed to marry and have children. But, corruption set in,and priests were passing down their office (not to mention their church lands) to their sons. Or they were selling their office to their friends' children. As priests and their families intermarried, certain families became very wealthy and powerful. The pope (and the people) became annoyed and alarmed at this. The pope decided the answer to the situation was to forbid them to marry.
2007-01-20 12:03:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Monasticism is an invention of man and Catholic priests are usually boys who never grew up and never loved anyone and will never love anyone since they avoid the basic responsibility of family life and hide within a circle of similarly troubled individuals to worship their own fears and their selfish inner lusts and desires.
2007-01-20 12:07:00 · answer #8 · answered by mythkiller-zuba 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
you mean how come or why do some??? maybe cuz they didn't find the right one yet...or they are homo pedos...who knows....they should go to confessions themselves...but they are still in the closest...
2007-01-20 11:57:33 · answer #9 · answered by kowalley 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
their minds will be distracted
thus disabling them to do their job
2007-01-20 13:30:43 · answer #10 · answered by M Dawg 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋