Where did the concept of 'Celibacy' come from?

[ViaCrucis]

It's been a common practice for bishops to remain unmarried since quite a long time ago, it wasn't a doctrinal issue so much as it is a matter of discipline. It's now, in both Roman Catholic and Orthodox practice, to require bishops to be unmarried men, though only the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church is the same discipline required of priests--Orthodox priests are frequently married, and Eastern Rite Catholics likewise have married priests; even in the Latin Rite special dispensations are frequently given for, as just an example, Anglican priests becoming Catholic--a married Anglican priest who becomes Roman Catholic can continue to serve as a priest in the Catholic Church.

These things aren't doctrinal or dogmatic, it's instead just longstanding disciplinary practice.

Without looking it up, I'd wager that the practice of bishop celibacy was likely because unmarried men were preferred over married men when ordaining them to the office--an unmarried man is likely to be able to focus more on his episcopal duties without the additional duties of being husband and father. I'd wager it was mostly pragmatic in the beginning, and over time became the norm, and what becomes normal eventually just becomes how things are done.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Root of Jesse]

That last sentence makes no sense.

Do you believe "Professed Catholics are actually in communion with the Church?" I think everyone breaks the first commandment enough to be considered not in full communion. That's why we go to confession, but then again, how soon after confession do we fall out of complete communion? I try very hard, but I fail a lot, and I'm sure every Catholic does, as well as those of our separated brethren.

 

[Erose]

Do you believe "Professed Catholics are actually in communion with the Church?" I think everyone breaks the first commandment enough to be considered not in full communion. That's why we go to confession, but then again, how soon after confession do we fall out of complete communion? I try very hard, but I fail a lot, and I'm sure every Catholic does, as well as those of our separated brethren.

Historically the concept of "communion" has nothing to do with the moral state of the individual; but rather what one professed their allegiance to, for lack of a better word; which is signified by the ability (or lack thereof) to share at the same altar. When we state that the Chaldean Patriarchate is in full communion with the Latin Patriarchate, it means that we can share the same altar. When we say that the Russian Orthodox are not in communion with the Catholic Church, it means that we do not share the same altar. Communion speaks more of relationship not morality. The pope can be in the state of mortal sin, for an example, and it doesn't mean that we who are in the state of Sanctifying grace are no longer in communion with the pope.

When we speak of a Protestant not being in communion with the Catholic Church, it simply means that they do not share at the same altar. We do not share the same table, which signifies a strained family relationship.

 

[Root of Jesse]

Historically the concept of "communion" has nothing to do with the moral state of the individual; but rather what one professed their allegiance to, for lack of a better word; which is signified by the ability (or lack thereof) to share at the same altar. When we state that the Chaldean Patriarchate is in full communion with the Latin Patriarchate, it means that we can share the same altar. When we say that the Russian Orthodox are not in communion with the Catholic Church, it means that we do not share the same altar. Communion speaks more of relationship not morality. The pope can be in the state of mortal sin, for an example, and it doesn't mean that we who are in the state of Sanctifying grace are no longer in communion with the pope.

When we speak of a Protestant not being in communion with the Catholic Church, it simply means that they do not share at the same altar. We do not share the same table, which signifies a strained family relationship.

I think that altar is CHRIST's altar, not the Catholic Church or anything (not that the Catholic Church and Christ's altar aren't the same...). Christ created one Church and we Christians validly baptized are in that Church. That means we are all out of communion with Him in one way or another.
But based on your understanding, I can see why you feel that way.