Catholics: According to the Bible that you read, what are God's qualifications for becoming a deacon or bishop

Question

So why aren't your deacons and bishops "the husband[s] of one wife"?

Answer 1

husband of one wife

Answer 2

Deacons are the first step. All priests are deacons before they are ordained, but a deacon can choose to remain a deacon. They are also the only ones allowed to marry (my church's deacon has a very sweet wife. They're such a cute couple).

As for how you become a bishop, I don't know. There is some kind of process once you're a priest to move up. But not all priests become bishops.

Answer 3

Ho-Hummmm. One more example of a Protestant trying to understand the Bible without the guidance of the Church, the biblical pillar and foundation of truth. The statement about being "the husband of one wife" is not a requirement that bishops be married. If it was, Paul would have been in direct violation of it. He not only remained unmarried, but clearly and forcefully stated the reasons why it is better for ordained ministers of the faith to remain unmarried, lest they be "divided" between the responsibilities of ministry and the responsibilities of marriage and family.

What the passage is about is polygamy. You see, converts to Catholicism during apostolic times came from two sources - the Jews and the pagans. The Jews of course were monogamous, but many of the pagans came into the Church bringing with them multiple wives. Over time, many of these converts, both former Jews and former pagans, attained positions of authority in the Church, to the point where some of them might have been ordained as bishops. Because polygamy was in conflict with the teaching of the Church, they did not want men with multiple wives becoming bishops. That is why we are told that a bishop must be the husband of [only] ONE wife.
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Answer 4

God calls people to be deacons and bishops. There are no qualifications beyond that. God does not call the qualified. He qualifies those He calls.

Or are you saying that God cannot call someone to be a deacon or bishop unless the person meets certain qualifications?

"The husband of one wife" means that they are to be devoted to a single person. In the case of a priest or bishop, that one person is Jesus Christ.

Are you saying that in your church, that if a bishop's wife dies, the man must resign from his position as bishop?

Answer 5

The Catholic answer is that the New Testament forbids polygamy, which was allowed in the old testament. The New testament does not mandate marriage.

There are several reasons that Catholic priests cannot marry. One is that Jesus did not marry, priests want to be like Jesus. A second is that St. Paul recommends, but does not require, celibacy for religious people (sorry I cannot cite chapter and verse).

There are more reasons.

Answer 6

Why are we penguins NOT pope?