Why does the Pope enforce celibacy when there is no Scripture to back it up?

Answer 1

Roman Catholic AnswerBecause it is a law and discipline of the Church. St. Paul specifically points out that celibacy is the better way to live and the Church has ruled on it from a very early point. As to Scripture "backing it up", this is not necessary. The Church predates Scripture, and as the Church is the Body of Christ, and guided by the Holy Spirit, and the Church wrote and approved the Scriptures, it is the Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit working through the Church that make such a ruling, just as the Church ruled on which books are to be in the Scriptures. The question, as stated, presupposes that the Scriptures came before the Church. This is erroneous.