Why aren't Catholic priests allowed to marry when according scripture Peter was?

Question

Another verse also says a bishop must be the husband of one wife.

Verses from the new testament.

There is a verse where it says that Jesus entered into the house of Peter he found Peter'smother in law in bed with a fever. Mathew 8:14 7 Luke 4:38 1 Corinthians 9:5 Paul asks "Don't we have the right to bring a believing wife along with us, as do other apostles and te Lord's brothers and Cephas? Again this shows Cephas indeed had a wife and a mother in law as the earlier verses indicated. 2 Titus 1:6 a bishop must be blameless, the husband of one wife, a man whose chidren believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobediant.

There is a verse where it says that Jesus entered into the house of Peter he found Peter'smother in law in bed with a fever. Mathew 8:14 7 Luke 4:38 1 Corinthians 9:5 Paul asks "Don't we have the right to bring a believing wife along with us, as do other apostles and te Lord's brothers and Cephas? Again this shows Cephas indeed had a wife and a mother in law as the earlier verses indicated. 2 Titus 1:6 a bishop must be blameless, the husband of one wife, a man whose chidren believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobediant.

I am not suggestng a person goes ot and gets married to prove some point only that there is absoultely nothing wrong with ministry being married. It wsn't wrong for Peter and as Paul described the other apostles or the Lord's brothers and he even argued why couldn't he lead one about?

WWJD Jesus was God. And God said it is not good tham man should be alone...Go forth and multiply. I don't think he was referring to arithmetic.

Paul also said it is better to marry than to burn.

Answer 1

The Catholic church believes their own pronouncements more than the Bible. Paul said not to prevent one from being married. Also Paul said he and others could carry about a wife as the other apostles. The Apostles did not have a chief apostle. They were equal.

1Co 9:3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don’t we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas ? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living?

1Ti 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. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer

Answer 2

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 3

The Vatican believes (I am not Catholic, so I will try my best here) that you are either married to God and the church or to a spouse on Earth. If you try to do both, you are not giving yourself completely to God.

The Bible doesn't actually teach this. God doesn't want us to be alone in this earthly life.

Personally I feel that because going through a lifetime without a mate is so humanly unnatural, the whole pedophile problem among priests would diminish greatly if the priests were allowed to marry. And tha folks, is just an opinion, nothing more.

Answer 4

From what I understand, and I can't remember where I learned this, priests were married for a long time. But it became a matter of land and ownership. The lands HAD to pass back to the church, not thier heirs. It protected property. And I believe St Francis of Assisi started the no marrying thing. I can't rememeber now.

Answer 5

It is a discipline in the Western Church only. Those entering the life of the Church are aware of the rules & disciplines.
However, things have a habit of changing. At present, former Church of England priests who "come over" and who are married are allowed into the priesthood. It is possible that the rule of celibacy may be relaxed in the future.

Answer 6

catholic priests can roman catholic priests cant becouse of money the church gets all the priests belongings. they use to be able to but one of the popes from the 5th century i think but might be wrong on the dates faced almost bancruptsy in the church so declaired that priests should only be married to the church.
in the old testiment god says to moses that you shall be a nation of priests and as god also said go forth and multiply unto the nations of earth it realy does go against the bible itself, but where are the new testiment verses you speak of

Answer 7

It was not until the middle ages that priests were not allowed to have families and take a vow of celibacy. Apparently people thought that a family would distract a priest from his religious responsibilities.

Answer 8

I think I heard somewhere the Roman Catholics - being different from Catholics are allowed to marry but can only be a certain level in the church.

Answer 9

Celibacy is a Church practice, not Church dogma. There are many Rites (variations) in the Church, which are still 100% Catholic, that have married priests. Also, there are some occasions when a married man may be ordained a priest.

The quotes below are taken out of the link in my source.
______
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. 7:32-33, 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.”

These next two will probably suit you.

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).

Answer 10

Catholicism - like every other religion is man made rules, rituals and regulations. I believe that the priest not marrying is a flawed man made rule not a commandment of God.