0
Right from the beginning, it was a decision of the Apostles to do so.
ANSWER: Priestly celibacy became church law in the 6th century. Before that time, priests freely and commonly married. Even St. Peter was married, but it is thought that he eventually became a widower, or perhaps left his wife at some point in his ministry.
What else can I help you with?
Is it true that priestly celibacy is a doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church?
No. Priestly celibacy is a discipline of the Catholic Church, not a doctrine. There are married Catholic priests. More information below:
Are village priests sons of higher-level priests?
In the Catholic Church, priests are celibate, therefore this question does not apply to the Catholic Church.
Why are priests not allow marry?
In most Christian churches, clergy are allowed to marry. Indeed in some churches there are priests married to each other (e.g. in the Church of England there are many husband and wife clergy families). This includes most Protestant churches and the Orthodox church, where parish priests can be married but monks, bishops and above remain celibate. The largest church with celibate priests is the Roman Catholic church. In this church, it is held that celibacy helps the priest to focus on God and service to the church. However, the issue of celibacy is not a matter of faith or theology, but a vow imposed on the majority of western-rite (Latin) Roman Catholic priests. The major reason for this requirement is to prevent a conflict between family life and service to a priest's parishioners. Contrary to widely held opinion, there are, and always have been, married priests in the Catholic church. Eastern-rite Catholic priests, such as the Maronites, and, more recently, already married Anglican priests who convert to Catholicism and wish to be Catholic priests, continue to serve in the priesthood. One condition of priesthood for married former-Anglican priests is that they may not serve in the role of principal parish priest, in order to conform with the principle of celibacy imposed on the majority of Roman Catholic priests. It is worth remembering that many of the early priests of the church, including the first pope (St Peter) were married.
Can a deacon become a priest?
In most Churches that have the threefold order (deacons, priests and bishops), like the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Churches, most deacons are ordained priests after one year being a deacon. However, some elect to remain as permanent deacons as this is where they believe their calling lies. Also, in the Roman Catholic Church married men are allowed to become deacons but are not, as yet, allowed to become priests (although some Catholic priests are now married - such as married Anglican priests who have moved to the Roman Catholic Church)> therefore, for married men the diaconate is the only order open to them and they remain deacons permanently.
Do popes ever get married?
No, popes do not get married. In the Roman Catholic Church, celibacy is a requirement for those who are ordained as priests, bishops, and popes.
Which was a disagreement between catholic church and orthdox church?
Orthodox priests could marry, Catholic priests could not.
When did the Catholic Church start having female priests and bishops?
The Catholic Church has never had female priests nor bishops, and will never have them.
Why are Catholic priests not allowed to marry?
The Vow of celibacy is meant to help priests focus on a relationship with God, rather than a relationship with a partner; Catholic priests are an alter Christus - another Christ, they are to mirror Him in their lives, they are His representatives; they are already "married" to the Church.
Is there an Edwardian order of priests in Catholic Church?
No.
How is the Eastern Orthodox Church different from the Catholic Church?
Orthodox priests can be married before they are ordained whereas Catholic priests cannot ever be married (except when a priest/minister of another denomination converts and wishes to be in the Catholic clergy).
Why can't priests be in relationships?
Priests in the Catholic Church are required to be celibate - in other words, no relations with women. Even St. Paul points out that it is better for priests to remain single so nothing distracts them from their ministry.
Did Catholic priests marry at any other time other than the 1st century?
Very much so. In fact marriage was common among priests way into the 11th and 12th centuries, the rule about celibacy in the priesthood being a relatively recent custom in the Roman Catholic Church. Also, there are many married Roman Catholic priests and deacons even today. Men ordained as deacons are free to marry with no restriction. However, priests are not. Nevertheless, there are some Anglican priests who have moved to Rome because of their disagreeing with the ordination of women in the Anglican church. many of these priests are married as there is no restriction on marriage for deacons priests or bishops within the Anglican Church. So many former Anglicans are now bona fide Catholic priests working and ministering in the Catholic Church, but are married. This has caused quite a bit of controversy among Catholic clergy who have given up normal family life for the priesthood and has, in many cases, opened up the whole question of celibacy in the priesthood and its enforcement for some and not for others.
