Question about the Catholic Church?

Question

First I am objective and do not have a reason to have any personal anti Catholic feelings.

I understand most things about the Catholic Church like how Rosaries and Artifacts and Forgiveness of Sins were really huge money makers for various cathedrals and how the creation of the Saint system allowed for local people to keep worshiping their pagan god under Christian makeup and how the creation of a Pope figure and the discouraging of bible studying by the lay people gave the church total control to do and say anything as coming from God Himself.

But what I don't understand is what advantage it gave to the Catholic Church to not have priests be married. Its seems that if priest were allowed to get married nad have sex the church would have a lot more priests (and a lot less abuse problems).

Is this a rule created to prevent priest property and money from getting divided up amongst offspring and family so that it can stay within the church?

For those of you saying Im wrong about the amount of money churches made from charging for the forgivness of sins and claiming to have this or that relic of some 'Saint' or how the church persecuted anyone outside of the priesthood caught studying the bible for themselves then its you who need to look at the history books

Answer 1

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.

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."

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."

Matthew 22:30 - Jesus explains, "At the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the angels in heaven."

In 1 Corinthians 7:1, Paul writes, "It is a good thing for a man not to touch a woman."

Then in 1 Corinthians 7:7, Paul says, "Indeed, I wish everyone to be as I am."

In 1 Corinthians 7:27, Paul writes, "Are you free of a wife? Then do not look for a wife."

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, and 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

*Is Catholic*

There are married priests in the Catholic Church.

The Roman Rite, however, has no married priests. It is a special CHARISM of the Roman Rite.

There are no married bishops in the Catholic Church though.

The advantage is two fold: First practically: If you check historically every time you started to get married priests (before it was made obligatory and when priests "married" on the side) these are always the lowest and most corrupt times for the Roman Rite. Secondly, and more importantly celibacy helps to conform the priests more closely to the ministry of Christ. It should also be noted that the Roman Rite priests are much closer to bishops in duties than traditionally the Eastern Rite priests are. As such, the priests must have a higher standard of holiness, which includes celibacy.

IF you think that having married priests would cause there to be more priests, you need to look into the statistics. First liturgical protestants (Catho-Anglicans etc.) which allow their clergy to be married don't have enough clergy. Second, if you look at the Catholic dioceses which promote "married priests", their vocations to the priesthood are way way DOWN. It is only in the diocese which promote celibacy that there are vocations.

Your last question, no that is not true. It was put into force IN PART because married priests were more interested in created fiefdoms for their offspring than actually being priests.

Answer 3

Respectfully,

Mr. Nitrogen, you do NOT understand virtually anything about the Catholic Church. PLEASE do not pretend you do when you obviously do not. No offence, but mis-representing others beliefs is not the way to win converts to anything.

Most likely you have an "understanding" that was learned from an anti-Catholic source only. Learning from one source does not bring understanding.

You do not understand Rosaries, Artifacts or the concept of forgiveness of sins, and yes while at one time in the 1400's there were Priests and Bishops that did charge money wrongly for forgiveness of sins, that is NOT the bases of forgiveness nor is now or has it been practiced for hundreds of years. You do not understand Saints or their importance to us; it has NOTHING to do with pagan gods.

The Pope does NOT discourage bible study, and Catholics DO read the Bible, There are no Catholics that think that the Pope is God himself.

So far you are batting zero, you do not understand celibate Priests or the fact that there was never a larger percentage of abusing Priests than people of other professions, the Priesthood did not make men abusers. You most likely also do not know the aggressive steps the Church has taken in education and prosecution of bad Priests.

You also do not understand that Priests take a vow of poverty, they make just enough for basic needs, there is no huge amount of income to divide up among anyone.

In the future, before proclaiming to have an "understanding" of another faith, make sure you really do, using a warped one sided view does not make you look credible and quite frankly is juvenile and silly.

If you want to debate our beliefs, by all means do, we are used to it and have asked the same questions already.

You can start with a read of the New Testament (Yes we do read the Bible) and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. (Book of our TRUE beliefs)

You can also tune in EWTN once in awhile if reading is not your thing.

Good Luck and God bless you!

P.S. The charging for sin forgivenss is the ONLY thing that is REMOTELY correct in your whole post, and like I already pointed out, that was NOT the original teaching of sin forgivness and it is not now and has not for hundreds of years been practiced. You cannot judge the whole faith and it's teachings based of what some Priests did that was AGAINST the formal teachings. Just like you can't claim that all Protestants are psychopaths just because of Jim Jones. (you may not be old enough to know why he is, google him) That is a ridicolus assumption.

Peace! (And PLEASE read the Catechism at least you will know what you are arguing against)

Answer 4

Why don't you do some real research about the Church and go directly to the sources that will tell you the truth?

You assumption that if priests were married would lower abuse is a HUGE mistake. It will make it worse.

Now if I'm not mistake St. Paul recommended that priests be celibate, but didn't demand it (I think, I'm not the best bible expert)

Answer 5

There is nothing in the bible that says that priests cannot be married, but the church decided to make it a rule, since Jesus was not married and the priests are following the examples that Jesus left. And all that other stuff that you "understand" about the Catholic Church is wrong. You need to get someone to explain that to you, I don't feel like typing it all out...

Answer 6

The only understanding you have of Catholicism is the Jack Chick cartoon version. Why are you so afraid to study the real facts?

And as far as the priest question, a priest wouldn't have any property or wealth to divide among anyone anyway. Your question is rather thoughtless and stupid.

Answer 7

The church is meant to be free of inheritance and nepotism.
BTW I don't fully agree with your analysis of Saints, and the greediness or power hungriness of the church. Besides the rare exception, any money collected is used for purposes that are quite meritorious, like schools, hospitals, and relieving the poor. The abuses of the past are 500 years ago. Things have changed.

Answer 8

First, your post shows that you have veryt little understanding of the Catholic faith. You say that you understand about rosaries, artifacts, forgiveness, saints, the papacy, and Bible study, but all of your statements are incorrect.

Yes, if there was no rule of priestly celibacy, there may be more men wanting to become priests, but instead of having men who devoted all of their time to serving the church, you would have men who had to split their time between their parishoners and their family.

In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul endorses celibacy for those capable of it: "To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain single as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion" (7:8-9).

It is only because of this "temptation to immorality" (7:2) that Paul gives the teaching about each man and woman having a spouse and giving each other their "conjugal rights" (7:3); he specifically clarifies, "I say this by way of concession, not of command. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own special gift from God, one of one kind and one of another" (7:6-7, emphasis added).

Paul even goes on to make a case for preferring celibacy to marriage: "Are you free from a wife? Do not seek marriage. . . those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. . . . 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. And the unmarried woman or girl is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please her husband" (7:27-34).

In regards to dividing up on money and property at the time of a priest's death, priests have brothers and sisters, and nieces and nephews that they leave they personal belongings to in their wills.

Answer 9

i'm pretty sure that the vow of celebacy has to do with keeping focused on God. without being married there should be no distractions and be able to focus on God (illusion of course) I have 2 uncles that are Catholic Priests... and this is something along the lines of their answer when they have been asked

Answer 10

"what's the abode looking element under the crucifix on the front of the church referred to as that the pastor places the communion crackers in after communion? what's it referred to as?" First, the bread isn't interior the form of crackers, yet are referred to as hosts. The "abode looking element" is referred to as a tabernacle. "what's the lengthy prayer that everybody says in the time of mass that everybody understands the words to? is that the sinners prayer?" there are various prayers that everybody says collectively. whether it rather is on the beginning up of the Mass and speaks approximately sins, it rather is probable the Confeitor. i spotted there have been 2 options. the 1st one replaced into only envelopes or products of paper and the 2d replaced into of course money. replaced into the 1st one prayer requests? on the crucifixx there replaced right into a banner that pronounced INRI. what does that advise? " i spotted there have been 2 options. the 1st one replaced into only envelopes or products of paper and the 2d replaced into of course money. replaced into the 1st one prayer requests?" often times there's a 2d series for a particular project. i think that final weekend replaced right into a particular series for Peter's Pence - a series to assist the charitiable initiatives of the Vatican. "on the crucifixx there replaced right into a banner that pronounced INRI. what does that advise?" INRI is an acronym for Iesus Nazorean Rex Iudea - that's latin for Jesus of Nazoreth, King of the Jews - it is the "crime" that Jesus replaced into charged with. be chuffed to touch me with the different questions