Please, I'd really like to know the answer to this

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PublicNewSense

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I attended a Catholic church for some time after becoming a Christian and I came across a Scripture that said something like, "Let every Deacon take one wife...Let every Priest take one wife...". I believe it was in Titans. My question is, why then, considering this is the inspired word of God, won't the church let Priests marry? I've been looking for some insight on this for years to no avail. Thank you for your time. :)
 

Wolseley

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Ah, methinks you mean Titus, not "Titans". Unless you're talking about Greek mythology. :)

The text in question is Titus 1:6, in which Paul directs Titus to appoint presbyters (priests) in every town who are "blameless and married only once". 1 Timothy 3:2 says the same thing about bishops, and 1 Timothy 3:12 says likewise concerning deacons.

In the early years of the Christian Faith, clergy did marry. As time went on, however, celibacy became more and more the norm, based in no small part on Paul's advice in 1 Corinthians 7:32-35, in which he imparts that if a man is unmarried, he is free of marital distractions and is able to work full-time for the Lord. Celibacy was imposed Church-wide in the Catholic Church by the 2nd Lateran Council in 1139. Since the Church imposed this law, she could just as easily abolish it----but that's extremely unlikey to happen.

That having been said, keep in mind that in the Catholic Faith, the bottom line for rules pertaining to faith and doctrine is the Magesterium of the Church, not the Bible. :)

Blessings,
---Wols.
 
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LouisBooth

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"In the early years of the Christian Faith, clergy did marry. As time went on, however, celibacy became more and more the norm, based in no small part on Paul's advice in 1 Corinthians 7:32-35"

Actually it seemed this was the trend due to the denial of ALL bodily plearsure and lead toward ascdism. They cut themselves and everything.....I just always thought it was wierd. Partly influenced by plato and early gnostics that this world is bad (to put it simply).
 
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Wolseley

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Well, don't forget that the Gnostics were officially condemned by the Church, and that Plato as a pagan was looked at suspiciously; as for the Flagellents and other extreme groups, they too were castigated by the Vatican. They were the lunatic fringe; you shouldn't view them as normal practice, mainstream Catholicism, or as having the official blessing of the Church. Certainly there were Catholics in the 14th century who beat themselves with whips, but there were also Protestants in the 20th century who played with rattlesnakes and drank strychnine. Both groups were definitely not the norm. :)

Blessings,
---Wols.
 
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Wolseley

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Your Dad is correct; but I must reiterate that the bottom line for faith and practice in the Catholic Church is the Sacred Magesterium, not the Bible.

As for celibacy not being realistic, that's a late 20th-century idea. People have lived as celibates for centuries, but we tend to be a tad brainwashed by the media in this day and age that you simply "have" to be involved with a significant other. That's not necessarily true; but as with all things, if it ain't your thing, then you shouldn't attempt it. :)

Blessings,
---Wols.
 
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Kotton

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Wols said:
As for celibacy not being realistic, that's a late 20th-century idea. People have lived as celibates for centuries, but we tend to be a tad brainwashed by the media in this day and age that you simply "have" to be involved with a significant other.
And herein lies the problem with our modern society, they cannot grasp the reasons why ANYONE would follow such a life. I believe the media have done more than a 'tad' bit of brainwashing. ;)

Kotton :D
 
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Wolseley

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There are active priests today who were at one time married Protestant ministers, who have converted to Catholicism. This isn't a common occurance, but it does happen. When they come into the Church and are ordained, they bring (of course) their wives with them. So, under certain circumstances (and these cases all have to be approved by the Holy See), married men may become priests, but priests cannot become married.

In other rites of the Catholic Church (Armenian Catholic, Melkite Catholic, etc., as opposed to the Roman rite) priests are allowed to marry. The Roman rite is strictly celibate.

In cases of converted married Protestant ministers, Eastern-rite Catholic priests, and deacons, they're all in the same boat if their wife dies, however----they cannot re-marry. :)

Confused, or does this help?
----Wols.
 
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Reborn2000

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How did I know you would have the answer Wols? ;) :p Yes that helped. Thank you! I thought I remembered reading there were a few married priests today, but wasn't sure how that was possible. Again, you have taught me something! :) I really appreciate all the time and effort you give, in answering our questions. That is so generous of you, as I am sure after a while you end up encountering the same things quite a bit. Anyway, among all this rambling, I am trying to say thank you and I really appreciate you....heehee!! :)

Hugs,
Kelly
 
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Wolseley

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:) I have no problem answering questions for anyone, if they're sincerely looking for information or knowledge.

Trolls and baiters, however, are something else. :) Fortunately, we don't get many of those here, like we did over on the Board That Shall Not Be Mentioned.

Thanks for the kind words, though, Kelly. I appreciate it! :)

God bless,
---Wols.
 
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I appreciate the way you lovingly share your beliefs with people even if they do not agree. That is the case with me. I appreciate that you answer my questions sincerely and do not resort to name calling and accusations like what has happened to me here before. God bless you! :)


Jeff
 
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Wolseley

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really? I was always led to believe that the asedicim movement of that age was the norm...hmmmm...

No, not really. There are extreme ascetics in every age, such as the Flagellants in the 14th century and the Gnostics in the 2nd, but while they might be sensationalistic (and thus played up by the media and the history professors) that still doesn't make them the norm. For every goof running around beating himself with a whip, you had tens of thousands who weren't. Look at your own church. I have no idea what your membership is, but how many of them handle rattlesnakes on a regular basis? Not too many? Well, there you go. :)

Blessings,
---Wols.
 
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LouisBooth

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"For every goof running around beating himself with a whip, you had tens of thousands who weren't. Look at your own church"

But EVERY moment of that time was based on this idea of self mutiation to take one away from thoughts of this world, a lot different then prod movements.

" I have no idea what your membership is, but how many of them handle rattlesnakes on a regular basis? "

very small minority, I see your point, but its not relivant. we are comparing a mountain (asdeisum in that day and age) to a molehill ("snake handlers and poisen drinkers") One was the direct root of all movements in catholism at that time, the other a small movement spawned out of the congrationalists (I think....) of the 1500s
 
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Wolseley

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But EVERY moment of that time was based on this idea of self mutiation to take one away from thoughts of this world, a lot different then prod movements.

No, they weren't. There were numerous religious movements and orders which began at that period which were not ascetic. The Alexians and the Camillians were founded on service to the sick; the Capuchins, on service to the poor; the Dominicans and the Jesuits on religious education; the Mercedarians were founded to help free prisoners of war. These are just a few of the orders founded during the Middle Ages. None of these were ascetic movements, and all of them attracted a lot more adherents than the Flagellants.

Blessings,
---Wols.
 
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