Why don't priests get married?

Question

I don't understand why priests don't get married and why catholics give up stuff they eat. They really have no reason to. In 1Timothy 4:1,3 it says: "1 Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from what we believe; they will follow lying spirits and teachings that come from demons.
2 These teachers are hypocrites and liars. They pretend to be religious, but their consciences are dead.

3 They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanksgiving by people who know and believe the truth.* Now doesn't this sound like the priests that we hear about all the time now? what do you think?

nope. i'm still not buying it

Answer 1

giggles, you are on the right track. Keep using your powers of reason. Keep using the Bible!!

Because of the clear words in the scripture you referred to, you can check off religions that forbid marriage and prohibit the consumption of certain foods at certain times of the year, and continue looking for the truth elsewhere.

- Bob

Answer 2

I actually just studied some information regarding celibacy of the clergy. It brought out the following:

Before the Christian era, Buddhism required its priests and monks to be celibate. (History of Sacerdotal Celibacy in the Christian Church, London, 1932, fourth ed., revised Henry C. Lea, p. 6) Even earlier, the higher orders of the Babylonian priesthood were required to practice celibacy, according to The Two Babylons by A. Hislop.

Pope Paul VI, in his encyclical Sacerdotalis Caelibatus (Priestly Celibacy, 1967) endorsed celibacy as a requirement for the clergy, but he admitted that "the New Testament which preserves the teaching of Christ and the Apostles...does not openly demand celibacy of sacred ministers...Jesus Himself did not make it a prerequisite in His choice of the Twelve, nor did the Apostles for those who presided over the first Christian communities." The Papal Encylicals 1958-1981 (Falls Church, Va; 1981) p. 204

What does the bible say?
1 Cor. 9: 5: "Do we not have the right to marry a believing woman like the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? (NAB)

1 Tim. 3: 2 "It behoveth, therefore, a bishop to be...husband of one wife" (Dy)

You quoted 1 Tim 4: 1-3...it even goes on to say that one of the teachings of the demons would be "forbidding to marry".

So it seems to be just another pagan practice or teaching that has been infiltrated into Christianity. What a big mess it has caused!

Answer 3

Because the know better.

Actually, there are married priests. Besides former Anglican priests who join the Catholic Church, there are Catholic Priests of some of the Eastern Rites who are allowed to marry. Eastern Rite bishops, however cannot.

The idea that priests cannot marry is a church rule, not an article of faith. This means that it could be rescinded, unlike the idea of female priestesses. The reason they don't marry is because married life detracts from their priestly function. The demands of married life would have a negative effect on the religious performance of the priest.

I think that marriage is a very difficult proposition. Apparently, the Church agrees with me.

Answer 4

The Church incorrectly mixes Missionaries with Priest. Missionaries were expected to travel to distanced lands making it difficult to be married where a priest stays at one place. The Church does not follow bible teachings.

CATHOLIC TRADITION - Forbidding the priesthood to marry.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS -

1) It is devilish to forbid God's people to marry when He has given marriage to be received with thanksgiving.

1 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.

2) Peter was married (remember the pope is supposedly continuing the apostolic line through Peter).

Matthew 8:14 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

Mark 1:30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.

Luke 4:38 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.

3) Paul, a great apostle, remained single; however he made it very clear that he could marry if he wanted to.

1 Corinthians 9:5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

Answer 5

Catholic priests do not marry because, while Christ does indeed approve of marriage for the Christian clergy, He much prefers that they do not marry. He made this quite clear when He praised the Apostles for giving up ``all'' to follow Him, saying, ``And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.'' (Matt. 19:27-29). Also, Jesus explains why some do not marry, stating "some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingsom of heaven." The Apostle Paul explained why the unmarried state is preferable to the married state for the Christian clergy: ``He that is without a wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God. But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided.'' (1 Cor. 7:32-33). In other words, matrimony is good-- Christ made it one of the holy sacraments of His Church--but it is not conducive to that complete dedication which is incumbent upon those who submit themselves to another of Christ's holy sacraments--that of Holy Orders. Even so, the unmarried state of the Catholic priesthood is not an inflexible law--under certain conditions a priest may be dispensed from this law.

We do not believe it is wrong to eat certain foods. We give up certain foods as a sacrifice to atone for our sins and the sins of others. It is like fasting. Jesus Himself taught us how to fast. If it is not necessary to fast, why did Jesus take the time to teach us how. Giving up these foods also teaches us self discipline. We all need a little more self discipline.

God bless,
Stanbo

Answer 6

certainly the statistics are a pair of million/2 of a million% of priests have been accused of sexual abuse in comparison to exceptionally much 15 % of Southern Baptist clergy. actual the statistics prepare that celibacy has been a good concern for the priesthood relating to sexual abuse. i'm a married priest of the %. and understand some Protestant ministers who've switched over to the Latin ceremony Church who're married. As a clergyman myself I see the earnings of celibacy for priests and have faith that St. Paul exchange into ideal that priests ought to be single and celibate in the event that they are able to be so blessed of their calling. this is extremely complicated for a clergyman to serve 2 families. those that say that priests ought to be married are examining Scriptures for the period of the lens of their prejudice against Christs Church. The Bible would not say that priests ought to be married yet is putting forward the nature of those chosen for the priesthood. there have been married priests for the period of the historic previous of the Church and it exchange into no longer until eventually the 12th century tat the discipline of celibacy exchange into declared. right this moment there are constrained exceptions to that rule and that i see no longer something incorrect with the discipline because it has served the Church properly. God bless! In Christ Fr. Joseph

Answer 7

Priests are to stay pure and only focus on one thing ~ the Church.
Catholics, and other religions observe Lint, or simply fast, to show their restraint and sacrifice to God.
How can you speak for all that they are hypocrites? You know all?
There is corruption in every place, even Preists are human. We all Sin.
Don't you?
I have but, at the least, I know I can go and ask God for forgiveness and despite what corruption is in the world, I know all is well.

Answer 8

1 Corinthians 7
Paul teaches that it is good for a man not to marry, but because of sexual immorality it's encouraged, but as far as priest marring it's better than they don't. A single man only has the concerns of God while a married man has the concerns of his wife and children as well.

I'm not Catholic but that's from where they probably came up with the idea of abstinence and non marring

Answer 9

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 10

The only reason that the Catholic Church does not allow priests to marry has much to do with the 12th century church. It is pure economics, the Catholic church could not afford to financially support say a family of 4 at the time. Hence the reason that priests cannot marry...

It has nothing to do with celibacy, although the modern day church would like you to believe so.