Shayla: Why don’t you think priests must be celibate?

Meforshim:

Many take the apostle Paul’s instruction on marriage and divorce to mean that, though marriage is allowed, celibacy is ideal.

• 1 Corinthians 7:1 HCSB About the things you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have relations with a woman."
• 1 Corinthians 7:7-8 HCSB (7) I wish that all people were just like me. But each has his own gift from God, one this and another that. (8) I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them if they remain as I am.

At first blush, it would seem to be supported by the Master’s own statements when the disciples responded with frustration to His teaching on divorce and remarriage.

• Matthew 19:10-12 HCSB His disciples said to Him, "If the relationship of a man with his wife is like this, it's better not to marry!" (11) But He told them, "Not everyone can accept this saying, but only those it has been given to. (12) For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb, there are eunuchs who were made by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves that way because of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can."

However, we must also take into account that Paul did in fact teach, in the very same passage that he encouraged celibacy, that marriage is allowed to all.

• 1 Corinthians 7:9 HCSB But if they do not have self-control, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with desire.

He specifically stated that getting married is no sin, merely a potential distraction from ministry.

• 1 Corinthians 7:28 HCSB (28) However, if you do get married, you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.
• 1 Corinthians 7:38 HCSB (38) So then he who marries his virgin does well, but he who does not marry will do better.

I find the Catholic church’s teachings on the matter difficult to reconcile with two principle scriptural points: First, the apostle Peter (the first pope according to Catholic doctrine) was married.

• Matthew 8:14 HCSB When Jesus went into Peter's house, He saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever.
• 1 Corinthians 9:5 HCSB Don't we have the right to be accompanied by a Christian wife, like the other apostles, the Lord's brothers, and Cephas?

Second, the Scriptures never explicitly state that celibacy is a requirement for ministry. The passage in 1 Corinthians 7 is directed toward all believers and only treats ministry obliquely. On the other hand, in its clear, explicit and systematic statements on the requirements of the eldership and diaconate, the Scriptures are very adamant.

• 1 Timothy 3:2 HCSB An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher,
• 1 Timothy 3:4 HCSB one who manages his own household competently, having his children under control with all dignity.
• 1 Timothy 3:12 HCSB Deacons must be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently.
• Titus 1:5-6 HCSB The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders in every town: (6) someone who is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of wildness or rebellion.

I further struggle with the origin of the concept. Prior to the Middle Ages, Catholic priests routinely married. In fact, they often had multiple wives and/or mistresses. It wasn’t until the time of Pope Pelagius 1 that new priests were made to sign an agreement. That agreement? To not allow their children to inherit Church property. Then Pope Gregory declared all sons of priests to be illegitimate. Why sons? Because females couldn’t inherit anyway. Pope Benedict VIII, in 1022, finally simply banned sex for priests altogether. In 1139, Pope Innocent the II voided the marriages of all the priests who were already married and caused them to divorce their wives, directly contradicting the Masters explicit teaching on the matter. The mercenary nature of the origin of this doctrine and the callous disregard the popes displayed for either the Scriptures or the needless suffering they were causing to tens of thousands of children and women give me pause.

I believe that not only did this doctrine arise due to the Catholic Church’s desire to protect its material interests, but that it stems from a strange Gnostic influence leading to the belief that the body is dirty, that sex is dirty and that the truly illuminated will rise above such crass things.

This runs contrary to God’s will. Clearly, He created us to be sexual beings. His very first command was “be fruitful, multiply” and Adam was considered incomplete without his mate. The Lord said, “It is not good for man to be alone,” and gave Adam a mate.

I believe that on this matter we should heed the apostle Paul’s admonition:

• Colossians 2:20-23 HCSB (20) If you died with Christ to the elemental forces of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations: (21) "Don't handle, don't taste, don't touch"? (22) All these regulations refer to what is destroyed by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines. (23) Although these have a reputation of wisdom by promoting ascetic practices, humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value against fleshly indulgence.