How many Catholics are aware that there have been married Popes?

Question

considering the present requirement for celebacy in the priesthood does this not seem hypocritical?

Velvet: if I question something how do you get that I'm angry?

Answer 1

Yes, we are aware of it.

Also during the Renaissance a lot of men wrere made Cardinals that were not ordained priest and they had children. Some of them were ordained later and some of them eventually became Pope. That is why many of the Renaissance Popes had children.

Answer 2

Most do. Almost all know that Peter was married.

The celibate clergy did not come into full bloom until about 1000 C.E. There were married and celibate 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.

With love in Christ.

Answer 3

Our church did no longer choose this variety of ingredient. The pope may be married, as can many clergymen. mutually as basically cardinals have been made pope for some years, the pope can particularly be any male Catholic, even married ones, and there have been numerous in Church history. If somebody who isn't the rank of bishop gets elected pope, in spite of the undeniable fact that, then they are first ordained a bishop before formally transforming into pope. clergymen may additionally marry. There are 24 rites of the Catholic Church, and basically one in all them (the Latin/Roman ceremony) has the self-discipline of celibacy. it somewhat is, in spite of the undeniable fact that, via a techniques the main properly-known ceremony, and maximum of do no longer particularly understand on the subject of the existence of different rites. If a married guy needs to be a clergyman, they could connect anybody of the different rites fairly. they are all the two valid. additionally enable me factor out that the only indication we've that Peter had a spouse grew to become into point out of his companion's mom. This does point out that he did have a spouse, yet she could have been deceased via the time Jesus got here alongside for all all of us understand.

Answer 4

Any Catholic that reads Catholic histories of the Popes.
Several of the early Popes were married,including Peter.

I do not see how celibacy of the clergy,which is a discipline of the Latin Church and not a doctrine, is hypocrisy

There are even now latin Rite priests in good standing who were married Anglican clergy before reception into the Catholic Church and ordination as Catholic priests and remain married.

Answer 5

There were about 12 popes that were married but none of them were married "after" becoming pope - they were already married. This includes the Apostle Peter (St. Peter) who was our 1st pope.

Here is the biblical justification for celibacy and the Catholic justification for celibacy:

Until Christ came along (Mt 19:12), and then Paul (1 Cor. 7:32-35), the only state of life known was marriage. The rabbis taught that a man was only half a man if he wasn't married by 20. But even in the Old Testament some of the prophets, like Elijah and Jeremiah, chose celibacy. By Jesus' time the great rabbis spoke of the possibility of "marrying Torah," that is, dedicating their whole life to the study of the Word. Paul was one who did, both before and after his conversion. Jesus is, of course, THE WORD, and infinitely more deserving of total dedication than the written word.

It should not be surprising, therefore, that Jesus should speak of some who would remain celibate ("eunuchs") for the sake of the Kingdom of God (Mt 19:12). St. Paul not only continued his pre-conversion celibacy as a Christian but recommended it for those who would be dedicated to serving God in this world (1 Cor. 7:7, 17, 32-35). He was speaking to a general audience and so he does not oblige it. But observe what he says in verse 17, "Only, everyone should live as the Lord has assigned, just as God called each one. I give this order in all the churches." This coincides with the admonition of Jesus to follow the vocation given by God, whether celibacy (Mt 19:12) or marriage (v.11).

Now Jesus said that if one could accept celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom one should and Paul says it is the best way for those dedicated to the Kingdom, and BOTH of them lived this total dedication to the will of the Father for the salvation of souls. Given the mentality of the world, both Jewish and Pagan, it was impossible at the beginning to find mature candidates for the priesthood who were not already married. Only with the arrival of a generally Christian milieu, where virginity and celibacy were honored into adult life, would celibate candidates for Holy Orders be generally available. Not surprisingly, then, the Church discerned with time that the gift of celibacy from God (who alone can give such a gift), together with the desire to serve God and His people, was an indication of a vocation to the priesthood. THIS has not always and everywhere been imposed in the Church, but almost immediately in Church history we find it recommended and even required in some places. Although Latin Rite Catholic priests for the last 1000 years have had to be celibate, Eastern Rite Catholic priests and priests of the Orthodox Churches (not in union with Rome) do not. However, ALL bishops in both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches MUST be celibates. They represent Christ to the people in their dioceses and Christ's bride is the Church (Eph 5:21-33) not someone else. So, it is entirely fitting that bishops not marry EVER and that priests not marry either, though in some traditions it is allowed PRIOR to ordination.

The fact that the apostles were married says nothing about the practice, since they were Jewish and followed the practices of their day, until Christ came along. Tradition affirms that they remained celibates after they followed Christ.

With the grace of Redemption came the possibility of celibacy and virginity for the sake of the Kingdom of God for more than the privileged few. It is a total gift of self to the Lord, fitting for those whose vocation is dedicated to love and service of God and neighbor. Unfortunately, it is something the worldly who do not understand the power of God have difficulty accepting, then as now.

Answer 6

I have been aware of that for many years. No it is not hypocritical. There was a time when popes were allowed to be married. The rule has changed. Where's the hypocrisy in having a new rule?

There was a time when presidents of the US had slaves. Now having slaves is illegal. Is there hypocrisy in that?

Answer 7

No, it is not hypocritical. Celibacy is a disciplinary rule not a Catholic dogma. The rule on celibacy was based on experiences of allowing the clergy to get married.

Answer 8

Sure I knew that. I assumed most people did.

The reason they made celibacy a requirement (end of the 4th century) is because of all the nepotism going on in the early church, and how bishops and priests were amassing wealth and power via the Church and passing it on to their scions.

Answer 9

Peter was married of course; he had a mother-in-law.
Celibacy is only a discipline which started in the 7th century.
All other branches of the church allow married clergy.

Answer 10

I've read that the rules for celibacy were brought about in order to keep land and money in the dioceses' pockets. They didn't want to share or take care of a clergymens families and descendants.
A pope's family would require alot of money ( think of the money used for Great Britain's royalty). They wanted to phase that out.