When Were Priests allowed to marry?

[Ainesis]

At what point in church history where priests allowed to marry?

 

[Metanoia02]

Haven't you heard? We are all priests!

 

[Borealis]

At what point in church history where priests allowed to marry?

It's a lengthy article, but this should help.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03481a.htm

 

[Ainesis]

Thank you!

So it seems the article is saying that priests were alowed to marry from the beginning, ut that over time celibacy became revered?

 

[Metanoia02]

Thank you!

So it seems the article is saying that priests were alowed to marry from the beginning, ut that over time celibacy became revered?

Celibacy has always been revered by the Church. The Church through experience saw the conflicts and problems married priest caused and decided it would be better if they remain unmarried.

 

[Borealis]

Thank you!

So it seems the article is saying that priests were alowed to marry from the beginning, ut that over time celibacy became revered?

Essentially, yes. Celibacy is not a church doctrine. It's a discipline that was installed because the Church leaders over time agreed with St. Paul that celibacy was preferable because it freed the priest from having to choose between family matters and God. However, this could conceivably change in the future; it is not a doctrine of the faith.

 

[revrobor]

"Celibacy has always been revered by the Church. The Church through experience saw the conflicts and problems married priest caused and decided it would be better if they remain unmarried."

I believe you are referring to the Roman Catholic church not the Church (Body of Believers) universal. You need to keep that clear in your posts. The RCC is not the only church with "priests".

 

[Metanoia02]

"Celibacy has always been revered by the Church. The Church through experience saw the conflicts and problems married priest caused and decided it would be better if they remain unmarried."

I believe you are referring to the Roman Catholic church not the Church (Body of Believers) universal. You need to keep that clear in your posts. The RCC is not the only church with "priests".

You seem to have no problem making the distinction. I will continue to refer to The Church as The Church.

 

[Polycarp1]

Celibacy is invaluable for a number of ministries, and some people are called to a celibate life. However, the priesthood as such does not mandate celibacy, though individual priestly vocations may. The Roman Rite of the Catholic Church -- but not the Eastern Rites in it, or the priesthood in churches which have priests outside the Catholic communion -- has an ecclesial rule compelling celibacy in the priesthood without dispensations rarely given. It is not a theological issue for them, but a matter of adherence to ecclesiastical authority. However, a man called to a religious order (Franciscans, Benedictines, etc.) who is ordained to the priesthood, or someone serving an inner-city parish or on a mission, may well be called to celibacy.

 

[holeinone]

The priests in Spain were willing the church property to their children. That prompted the change to celibacy

In the 10th century imposition of celibacy, which was enforced not to make priests more available to their flocks but to prevent them from passing church property on to their children.

The promotion of the idea that one needs be celibate to have be a pastor is no where in scripture and makes Peters wife a problem spiritually for him

"

 

[zaire]

I believe that the advantages of a church leader having a family (wife and children) out way the disadvantages.

 

[Borealis]

I believe that the advantages of a church leader having a family (wife and children) out way the disadvantages.

So do a lot of people. But it's only an opinion, and the Church has decided that celibacy is preferable for many reasons. Since you're not Catholic, what difference does it make to you?

If the Catholic Church changed its position on celibacy, would you convert?

 

[Ainesis]

Alright. well, thank you for those who answered the questions. It seems that celibacy for priesthood was more of a development over time (for whatever reasons) as opposed to the allowance of marriage being the development.

That was all I wanted to know. If this is going to turn into a orthodox/protestatnt arguement, I'll depart here.

Thanks again for those who were helpful.

 

[IgnatiusOfAntioch]

Thank you!

So it seems the article is saying that priests were alowed to marry from the beginning, ut that over time celibacy became revered?

It seems that celibacy for priesthood was more of a development over time (for whatever reasons) as opposed to the allowance of marriage being the development.

Don't forget that Paul advised celebacy. Also, only a few of the Apostles were married.

 

[Ainesis]

Don't forget that Paul advised celebacy. Also, only a few of the Apostles were married.

Great point! And I do remember it. I'll be the first to admit that celibacy has its benefits, as does marriage. But I was just wondering specifically about the development of celibacy/marriage among clergy.

Thanks again!

 

[IgnatiusOfAntioch]

I believe you are referring to the Roman Catholic church not the Church (Body of Believers) universal. You need to keep that clear in your posts. The RCC is not the only church with "priests".

It is quite clear what he meant. However, you seem to be a little confused on a few points about the Church. You seem to think that the Roman Rite is the only one in the Catholic Church. You could not be more wrong. A short enumeration and description of the Eastern Rites of the Catholic will give you a more complete picture of the Church.
It is, in the first place, a mistake to look upon these Eastern Churches as anything other than fully Catholic. Their position is quite simple and quite logical. They represent exactly the state of the Eastern Churches before the schisms. They are entirely and uncompromisingly Catholics in the strictest sense of the word, quite as much as Roman Catholics. They accept the whole Catholic Faith and the authority of the pope as visible head of the Catholic Church, as did St. Athanasius, St. Basil, St. John Chrysostom.




Here is a short description of the other members of the Church

• The Byzantine Catholics correspond to the Eastern Orthodox. They all use the same (Byzantine) Rite; but they are not all organized as one body. the Melkites in Syria and Egypt under a Patriarch of Antioch who administers, and bears the titles of, Alexandria and Jerusalem too.
• The Georgian congregation of Constantinople This is the last remnant of the old Georgian Church destroyed by Russia.
• The Ruthenians. They use Old Slavonic.
• Rumanian Catholics (please note Rumanian, not Roman) in Rumania. They have bishops and use their own language in the liturgy.
• The Italo-Greeks a remnant of the old Church of Greater Greece. They have a famous monastery near Grotta-ferrata and congregations at Leghorn, Malta, Algiers, Marseilles, and Corsica, besides a church (St-Julien le Pauvre) at Paris. They use Greek liturgically .
• Chaldean Catholics are Eastern Catholics. There is a Catholic patriarch of the Chaldees. Their primate lives at Mosul, having the title of Patriarch of Babylon. Under him are two archbishops and ten other sees. 3. Alexandrian Catholics
• The Alexandrian Catholics (Catholic Copts) have a vicar Apostolic. As the number of Catholics of this Rite has increased very considerably of late years, Leo XIII in 1895 restored the Catholic patriarchate. The patriarch lives at Cairo.
• Abyssinians are from where else, Abyssinia. Repeated persecutions and banishment of Catholics prevented this community from becoming a permanent one with a regular hierarchy. Now that the Government is tolerant, this Church is beginning to see some growth. They have an Apostolic vicar at Keren.
• Syrians The patriarch Ignatius Giarve received the pallium from the Holy See. The Catholic patriarch lives at Beirut, most of his flock in Mesopotamia.
• Uniat Church of Malabar. This is most interesting. St. Thomas the Apostle went to India and established a church there in Malabar. This Church retained the liturgy and sacraments even though it was separated from the rest of Christianity for 1600 years. There is a Catholic Church of Malabar formed by the Synod of Diamper in 1599. This Church is under three vicars Apostolic (at Trichur, Changanacherry, and Ernaculam).
• Armenians (NOTE: this is Armenian, not to be confused with Arminian [see here for more information http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/am.html]) The Catholic Armenians are an important body. Like their Gregorian countrymen they are scattered about the Levant, they also have congregations in Austria and Italy. The head of the Catholic Armenians is the Catholic Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, in whom is joined the patriarchate of Cilicia. He always takes the name Peter, and rules over three titular archbishops and fourteen sees, of which one is Alexandria and one Ispahan in Persia. There are also many Armenians Catholics in Austria-Hungary and Galicia and have the Armenian Archbishop of Lemberg.
• Maronites. The Maronite Church is entirely Catholic. There is much dispute as to its origin, it is certain that it was formed around monasteries in the Lebanon founded by a certain John Maro in the fourth century. Their head is the Maronite "Patriarch of Antioch and all the East", successor to Monothelite rivals of the old line. He has under him nine sees and several titular bishops.

The correct term when discussing Catholicism in the entirety is The Catholic Church. However, if you are speaking specifically with one of the other Catholic ecclesiastical bodies, then you should use that specific title, such as the Maronite Catholic Church for Maronites, or Roman Catholic for Latin Catholics. Otherwise, use The Catholic Church or simply the Church. I hope this will clear up your misunderstanding and help you to properly comprehend what others are saying.


May God richly bless you and bring you to the Pillar and Foundation of Truth.

Your brother in Christ.

 

[statrei]

Celibacy is invaluable for a number of ministries, and some people are called to a celibate life.

< snip >

or someone serving an inner-city parish or on a mission, may well be called to celibacy.

Called by whom? If they were called by the Creator why would they not do it unless the church required it?

 

[Polycarp1]

Called by whom? If they were called by the Creator why would they not do it unless the church required it?

Note that I said nothing about requirements. A Methodist or Baptist minister, a Lutheran pastor, an Anglican or Orthodox priest, all of whom can legitimately marry under Church law, might feel himself called to celibacy in order to best conduct the ministry to which he feels called.

 

[statrei]

Note that I said nothing about requirements. A Methodist or Baptist minister, a Lutheran pastor, an Anglican or Orthodox priest, all of whom can legitimately marry under Church law, might feel himself called to celibacy in order to best conduct the ministry to which he feels called.

It is more persuasive that there is a call to abstain where there is liberty to participate.

 

[Lotar]

It is more persuasive that there is a call to abstain where there is liberty to participate.

No one has to become a priest or monk, its always their choice.