Celibacy Debate

[Daniel Marsh]

Paul was not married and He wrote most of the NT.

Some people have a gift of celibacy. Some choose this path.

So, if someone has that gift, who are we to get in the way?

1 Corinthians 7:7 The Message (MSG)
7 Sometimes I wish everyone were single like me—a simpler life in many ways! But celibacy is not for everyone any more than marriage is. God gives the gift of the single life to some, the gift of the married life to others.

1 Corinthians 7:32–35
English Standard Version
32 I want you to be efree from anxieties. fThe unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 35 I say this for your own benefit, gnot to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

Romans 14:8For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

We have no authority to judge someone who is living out their Gift from God.

 

[BryanJohnMaloney]

Obviously, "sexual relationship" could exist only within the context of marriage. My pastor is often on the go 14 to 16 hours a day, celebrating Mass, hearing confessions, doing baptisms, meeting with people for counseling, directing various parish groups, attending required diocesan meetings, sometimes driving the parish food truck for the poor and needy, etc. Not much time for a wife and family if he is going to get any sleep.

So, what do you say to the clergy of the Sui Iuris churches that recognize the Pope?

 

[BryanJohnMaloney]

I view them as servants of God.

Is their non-celibate servitude in error?

 

[tz620q]

So, what do you say to the clergy of the Sui Iuris churches that recognize the Pope?

Sui Iuris by itself says that these churches are under a different canonical law and a different discipline. So if the head of these churches feels that his priests are better serving the church leading a non-celibate life, then they are within their right or maybe rite.

 

[tz620q]

Is their non-celibate servitude in error?

Since celibacy is not a doctrinal issue, no, they are not in error.