Speaking of the Catholic faith and those 'daughter' churches with similar structure, priestly celibacy - a mandatory practice of abstaining from marriage for all Catholic clerics - was adopted in A.D. 1139 at the Second Lateran Council.
The Bible has examples of those called to serve God being celibate but nowhere does it command those who which to serve God to be in such a state. Indeed, the Apostle Paul was inspired to say this about our 'pulls of the flesh:'
1 Corinthians 7:8-9New King James Version (NKJV)8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9 but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
Priests did not have to be celibate.
Celibate
Yes. They can still remain celibate while dating.
a priest would know the answer to that. if you are able to find a celibate one that is.
forever
Optional celibacy is a choice to be celibate, such as those who choose to remain celibate until marriage, etc. This is different from, say a priest, who is required by faith to be celibate. It also includes priests of denominations which do not demand celebacy (the Church of England for example) who choose to be celebate (for example the Company of Mission Priests a Vincentian Order within the Church of England).
The primary purpose of a priest remaining celibate is to more perfectly conform Himself to Christ. The people of God is feminine in Catholic theology (the Bride of Christ) and the priest, as and "alter Christus" stands as the Bridegroom to the people of God.
Probably not. As a nun they couldn't have a sexual relationship with a husband because when they take vows they are to remain celibate. Anyone I have known who was a nun or priest and wanted to get married had to leave .
priests should be celibate.
He's a priest. He's celibate. His knowledge of love is not from personal experience.
Catholic priest must remain celebate (they may not marry) while Lutheran ministers may marry.
An abegha is a celibate priest or monk of the Armenian Apostolic Church, also known as a hieromonk.