Dear Catholics do you think celibacy (however you spell it) is biblical?

Question

If you do I am afraid you have been misguided, open your bible and read. To start off go to I Timothy 4:1-3 " NOW THE Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth." So forbidding to marry is speaking lies and doctrines of devil's. Better yet lets see what God says, I know its all inspired by God but you know what I mean. Genesis 2:18 "And the LORD God said, It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him." You know the rest, so therefore rejecting to marry is going against God's word. Yes you may not have found the God chosen woman priest, but you can't tell me that there was never a rejection in certain cases.

Why are you all going by what Paul says I said Genesis 2:18 God said it himself "It is not good that man should be alone." Priests, pope etc. all defying God's word.

Look no where in the bible does it teach that you HAVE to be celibate, that is what im saying. Your vatican teaches it, so yea. Yes it's an option but its not a commanded word of God. Why do you think the priests are molesting little boys, because they have no wife, and many other reasons (sitting in that confessional listening to people commit audltery and much other worse things)

Answer 1

Priests, religious brothers and religious sisters (nuns) as part of their vocation choose not to marry following:
+ The practice recommended in the Bible
+ The example of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, and the Apostle Paul.

+++ Scripture +++

+ 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

+++ Scriptural Examples +++

Biblical role models of a celibate clergy came from John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Apostle Paul.

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.

WWJD? What would Jesus do? Jesus did not marry.

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.

Answer 2

As others have indicated, St. Paul said that celibacy was to be a matter of the individual's choice and self-control. The same thing is true of the priesthood: the men who become priests do so voluntarily and with full understanding of what is expected of them.

Celibacy is expected of Catholic priests, and it's a perfectly reasonable expectation. How many Protestant ministers struggle between the needs of their parishioners and the needs of their wife and family? Priests are free to serve the needs of the people without the distraction of family responsibilities.

And the Church is no different than any other entity with rules, such as a corporation or a charitable foundation. Either you follow those rules, or you're asked to leave.

Celibacy is not required of every man, but it *is* expected of those who choose of their own free will to become priests. There's no contradiction between that and Scripture, no matter what you may believe to the contrary.

Answer 3

I am orthodox, the first christian church. Priests are allowed to marry before they are ordained as priests. I think that Catholics priests were married when Roman Catholics started in around 1050ad. I heard (am not sure) that celibacy started in the 1300's

Answer 4

Roman Catholic priests aren't allowed to be married and take an oath of celibacy is because of dogma and tradition. The reasoning behind it is that since Jesus wasn't married, the priests - who are to try and emulate Jesus - shouldn't be married. And since adultery is a sin, they go with celibacy.

Answer 5

According to the Women's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets, such things as virginity and celibacy came to be prized in the early church, because they were expecting the Christ's return for the second coming "any minute now" so there was really no motivation to start a family, or anything like that, when you're going to go to heaven any minute, so things like that became traditional for various members....I guess you could say it became a "habit" * so to speak....

Answer 6

Yes, I do think that. See Matthew 19:12 and 1 Corinthians 7:32-35.

BTW, the Catholic Church does not forbid marriage! I myself am married, the Catholic Church has married priests, and the Code of Canon Law states, "All the Christian faithful have the right to be free from any kind of coercion in choosing a state of life." (para. 219)
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__PU.HTM

Answer 7

Not a Catholic and agree with you 100%. There shouldn't be any rule/s forbidding marriage. 1 Cor. 7:32- 39. Paul was saying if you are single stay single if you wish but if your desire is to marry go right ahead.

Answer 8

You have obviously swallowed a pack of lies, and couldn't identify the truth if it came over and sat on your face.

The passage you speak of talks about pagans, not Christians, and the reasons the pagans do what they do has nothing at all with serving the one, true God.

The primary reason that priests are celibate is because they are called to be "other Christs" and to conform their lives as closely as possible with the life of Jesus Christ.

Jesus was celibate. Did he follow the doctrine of devils?

Jesus gave everything he had and everything he was, solely for our benefit. A wife would have been an obstacle to the type of work Jesus was sent to do. Ditto for the Catholic priesthood.

Jesus gave up the possibility of any "normal" family life in order to accomplish his great mission of redemption, and Catholic priests still carry on that great work, in the world today.

Catholic priests are asked to do all of these things and more, for God, and for the church.

So what if a few of them can't cut it, and go bad.

Jesus had his Judas, as well.

The huge majority of Catholic priests are wonderful, heroic, hard working, self sacrificing, and holy men, who tirelessly do God's work, asking little or nothing in return.

The late Pope John Paul II was a great example of total self-giving for the glory of God and his church, and even in death, John Paul II continues to inspire young men to become priests, and to dedicate their lives to the service of the Lord.

Stop trying to twist what the Bible says, in order to back up your own false faith traditions.

Satan tried to twist scripture around, too. It only worked once, and then Jesus came and put him in his place.

Try this passage on for size, and see if it doesn't precisely describe the brave and holy men of the Catholic priesthood:

Mat 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:25 For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it.
Mat 16:26 For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul?

Catholics have known, from the earliest days of the church, that Jesus words are true, and that our greatest rewards and greatest results come from self-denial and sacrifice, for the greater glory of God.

You should try it some time.

Answer 9

I understand why you think that. Now let me tell you why you're wrong. Open your Bible:

Matt. 19:11-12 - 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.

Matt. 19:29 - Jesus says that 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.

Matt. 22:30 - Jesus explains that 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.

1 Cor 7:1 – Paul teaches that it is well for a man not to touch a woman. This is the choice that the Catholic priests of the Roman rite freely make.

1 Cor. 7:7 - Paul also acknowledges that celibacy is a gift from God and wishes that all were celibate like he is.

1 Cor. 7:27 – 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.

1 Cor. 7:32-33, 38 - 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.”

1 Tim. 3:2 - Paul instructs that bishops must be married only once. Many Protestants use this verse to prove that the Church's celibacy law is in error. But they are mistaken because this verse refers to bishops that were widowers. Paul is instructing that these widowers could not remarry. The verse also refers to those bishops who were currently married. They also could not remarry (in the Catholic Church's Eastern rite, priests are allowed to marry; celibacy is only a disciplinary rule for the clergy of the Roman rite). Therefore, this text has nothing to do with imposing a marriage requirement on becoming a bishop.

1 Tim. 4:3 - in this verse, Paul refers to deceitful doctrines that forbid marriage. Many non-Catholics also use this verse to impugn the Church's practice of celibacy. This is entirely misguided because the Catholic Church (unlike many Protestant churches) exalts marriage to a sacrament. In fact, marriage is elevated to a sacrament, but consecrated virginity is not. The Church declares marriage sacred, covenantal and lifegiving. Paul is referring to doctrines that forbid marriage and other goods when done outside the teaching of Christ and for a lessor good. Celibacy is an act of giving up one good (marriage and children) for a greater good (complete spiritual union with God).

1 Tim. 5:9-12 - Paul recommends that older widows take a pledge of celibacy. This was the beginning of women religious orders.

2 Tim. 2:3-4 - Paul instructs his bishop Timothy that no soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim his to satisfy the One who enlisted him. Paul is using an analogy to describe the role of the celibate priesthood in the Church.

Rev. 14:4 - unlike our sinful world of the flesh, in heaven, those consecrated to virginity are honored.

Isaiah 56:3-7 - the eunuchs who keep God's covenant will have a special place in the kingdom of heaven.

Jer. 16:1-4 - Jeremiah is told by God not to take a wife or have children.

Answer 10

Marriage is implied to be the lesser of two evils, if you will allow me the liberty to say that. And, it is a choice. One of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5 is temperance, self-control.
For those that have no self-control, marriage is the answer.
1 Corinthians 7:7
For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.