When was the rule of celibacy installed for Catholic priests?

Answer 1

Someone told me this morning that celibacy was established for Catholic priests either during the Lateran Council of 1056 or 1156.

Is this true? If so, what circumstances were responsible for celibacy to be required of all Catholic priests and at which Lateran Council.

vincenzaancona@Yahoo.com

Answer 2

From the very beginning. St. John and st. Paul were celibates, and of course, so was Jesus himself! Christ praises this in st. Mathew's gospel saying:

Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. 12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others-and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."

Mt 19:11-12

Celibacy, however, was not a requirement for priests and religious in the beginning. Many early priests were married and had families. while there may have been celibate individuals, it was not required by Holy See. The overall shift to the discipline of celibacy began before the middle ages. Even this only applies to the Latin rite, in the Eastern rites of the Catholic Church a married man may become a priest, though not a bishop. The overall shift to celibacy began at the end of the third century/beginning of the fourth century: see the article below.

Answer 3

Another answer from our community:

Celibacy has been the rule for Catholic priests since the very beginning, when St. Paul said that he wished all could be as he was. There have been numerous regulations in the Church about this, as there have been numerous problems over the years. Most of the celibacy regulations that can be found are local, for instance the Spanish Synod of Elvira in the early 4th century. The first Council of the Lateran (1123), probably the first Church-wide legislation that we can find, marriage of the higher clergy was declared not only unlawful but invalid.

from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994

1579 All the ordained ministers of the Latin Church, with the exception of permanent deacons, are normally chosen from among men of faith who live a celibate life and who intend to remain celibate "for the sake of the kingdom of heaven." (Mt 19:12) Called to consecrate themselves with undivided heart to the Lord and to "the affairs of the Lord," (1 Cor 7:32) they give themselves entirely to God and to men. Celibacy is a sign of this new life to the service of which the Church's minister is consecrated; accepted with a joyous heart celibacy radiantly proclaims the Reign of God. (Cf. Presbyterorum ordinis 16)

from A Catholic Dictionary, edited by Donald Attwater, Second edition, revised 1957

Celibacy of the Clergy. In the Western church marriage is prohibited to all clergy of the rank of subdeacon and upwards (deacon since Vatican Council II). This is a matter of discipline which rests on a positive enactment of ecclesiastical law, which is never dispensed, except in the case of a subdeacon or deacon who relinquishes his orders; all who are ordained subdeacon by that very fact take a solemn vow of perfect chastity. It is grounded in the doctrine of the superior excellence of virginity and has been reinforced by the spiritual and temporal experience of many centuries: by it the clergy are left free for the things of God (cf., 1 Cor. Vii, 32-3), and on countless occasions have been enabled to carry on under circumstances wherein wife and children would have made it impossible. At the beginning of the 4th century the Spanish Synod of Elvira ordered married clergy to live in continence, and this discipline spread throughout the Latin church: by the first Council of the Lateran (1123) marriage of the higher clergy was declared not only unlawful but invalid.......

from Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, S.J. Doubleday & Co., Inc. Garden City, NY 1980

Ecclesiastical celibacy was a logical development of Christ's teaching about continence (Matthew 19:10-12). The first beginnings of religious life were seen in the self-imposed practice of celibacy among men and women who wished to devote themselves to a lifetime following Christ in the practice of the evangelical counsels. Celibacy was one of the features of the earliest hermits and a requirement of the first monastic foundations under St. Pachomius ©. 290-346). Over the centuries religious celibacy has been the subject of the Church's frequent legislation. The Second Vatican Council named chastity first among the evangelical counsels to be practiced by religious and said that "it is a special symbol of heavenly benefits, and for religious it is a most effective means of dedicating themselves wholeheartedly to he divine service and the works of the apostolate" (Decree on the Up-to-date Renewal of Religious Life, 12). (Etym. Latin caelibatus, single life, celibacy.)

Answer 4

In the earliest years of the church, clergy were mainly married men. The pseudo-Pauline epistle 1 Timothy shows that even as late as the second century, priests were expected to be married (1 Tim 3:2): "a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded ..." Paul himself recommended against marriage even for the laity, but says that if you marry you have not sinned (1 Cor 7:28).

The Spanish Council of Elvira imposed celibacy on bishops, priests, and deacons in 306, although its effect would only have been local: "We decree that all bishops, priests, deacons, and all clerics engaged in the ministry are forbidden entirely to live with their wives and to beget children: whoever shall do so will be deposed from the clerical dignity." A proposal mandating clerical celibacy was defeated at Council of Nicea in 325, so that there was no universal requirement for priests to be celibate.

Through the fourth century, the push for clerical celibacy continued, especially in the west. By the time of Pope Leo I (died 461), no bishop, priest, deacon or subdeacon in the western Church could be married. Nevertheless, the rules were not always enforced. Furthermore, we know from history and current affairs, that celibacy has been treated as optional by some in the Church hierarchy.

Answer 5

It was a general rule in the earliest days that clergy, even bishops and popes, were married. However, a culture of clerical celibacy began gradually, with the emerging belief that family was a distraction from spiritual duties, as well as a concern that clergy should not pass on inheritances to their children.

Pope Siricius (384-399) wrote two decrees regarding clerical celibacy, in 385 stating that priests should stop living with their wives. For many, especially in Rome, concubines and mistresses replaced legitimate wives.

Answer 6

Another answer from our community:

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Celibacy began with St. Paul in the New Testament.

Answer 7

Though the issue of celibacy was discussed in prior Councils, it is believed that Pope Calixtus II, in the 1123 Lateran Council formally forbade clergy to marry.