Priests

Actually this question presupposes some inaccurate information regarding Celibacy.

Roman Catholic Priests are allowed to be married. A few are. The Apostolic Tradition is that one can receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders IF they are already in the state of marriage. However if the person is NOT married upon the reception of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the person is to remain celibate for life.

Despite the above, Celibate clergy especially in the West have always been held as the ideal, and eventually the West adopted the practice of a Celibate clergy. It is important to note that this is an ecclesiastical tradition, not a Divine Tradition, and is admittedly subject to change. It is, however highly unlikely to change. Exceptions have been made for Lutheran ministers who convert to Catholicism and want to be Catholic priests. They have been ordained in the state of marriage, as have Anglican clergy who convert and want to be priests. What is important to note is that even when an exception is made- the person is ALREADY IN THE STATE OF MARRIAGE, and if the wife predeceases the priest, the priest does not marry again but remains celibate.

Why is Celibacy considered an ideal for priests? Because the priest is an Icon of Christ, a re-presentation of Christ. The best way to be an Icon of Christ is to live the life that Christ lead: Celibate. In the second place, a priest is mystically married, just as Christ is mystically married. Christ's Bride is the Church, therefore the priest upon ordination takes as his Bride the Church. Christ gave his life for the Church, so too the priest as Icon of Christ is called to do the same.

As for "Nuns" I am not aware that Nuns have ever been married due to the nature of the Vocation in the East or the West. A vowed religious becomes wed to Christ, and dedicates her life to Christ. Some Nuns will wear wedding rings to signifty their marriage to Christ.

Yes. E.g., a priest who is retired or traveling could say daily Mass by himself. Also, if there's no one else in the parish at that time, he would still say it.

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Because they are not supposed to hold positions of power.

Anglican Catholic View!

It is all mixed up! I left the Canterbury Communion in 1994 at the time of Women's Ordination. The problem isn't women, they run most parishes! For me and my Church, it is a matter of Holy Tradition. For some two thousand years we have never had women priests or,'priestesses'. AS far as we can tell, Our Lord, who was quite progressive in His dealings with both men and women didn't have women apostles or elders. The early church seems to have done without them and there's no reference in scripture! In view of the ',hurrah', raised by the spectre of Women in orders amongst both Orthodox and Romanists, it would perhaps have been better for wider discussions amongst the Catholics of all three jurisdictions.

Regarding the above answer, the answerer commented that it was 'his' church - but as we know it is GOD's Church. During extensive discussions on women's priesthood at parish lever, deanery, diocesan and general synod level and right across the Anglican church worldwide, the Holy Spirit was invoked at every opportunity to guide and bless decisions made. Those who led discussions bent over backwards to discern that it was not theirwill that prevailed, but what GOD wanted for the Church. The result was the ordination of women. Sadly there were those who would not accept this, and who fought against the preceived will of God, and left the Church as a result.

There is absolutely NO reason, historical, scriptural or theological why women cannot be priests or bishops. Contrary to the above answer, women played an VERY important role in the early Church as leaders and ministers. In fact, in Priscilla, Lydia and others, many women were Church leaders in the early Church and presided at the Eucharist - a priestly function. The role of these women is clearly described in the Book of Acts, and other female Church leaders are mentioned by name in greetings by Paul in his letters. The Fratio Panis - a fresco of a Eucharist found in the Rome Catacombs and dating from the early Church confirms a Eucharist taking place where the president is (if you take into account her hairstyle and ample bosom) clearly a woman.

Even Paul - often accused unfairly of being misogynistic - declared in his letter to the Galatians that "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus". A pity that some want to go against Paul's teaching and add....."er yes.... but that doesnt apply to the priesthood!".

To suggest, as the answerer does above, that Jesus somehow dismissed women is misogynistic in the extreme. Jesus had women round him all the time. He taught Mary, the sister of Martha, Kingdom values. He spoke not only to women (a social taboo) but also to foreign women of a race hated by Jews (eg the Samaritan woman at the well). He even appeared after the resurrection first to a woman (Mary Magdalene) and not to a man!

So, the Anglican Church has had women clergy for well over a decade, and is at last dragging itself into the 21st century. Sadly there are those who will still maintain it should keep 'traditional values' (and let's not forget that in the 18th Century, the 'traditional' values of the Church even supported slavery) and will not be content until the Church dies a death that it would so richly deserve unless it embraced the fact that all humanity is equal - women and men - and all have a place in serving God in the role of a priest - or a bishop.

The spiritual leader of the Midianites.

Midian is the son of Abraham (Gen. 25:1-2)

It reads, "Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah." (Gen. 25:1-2) And the sons of Midian: Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah,..." (Gen.25:4)

1. Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well. (Ex. 2:15)
2. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. (Ex. 2:16)
3. His name is Reuel. "And when they came to Reuel their father..." (Ex. 2:18)
4. Moses married the Priest of Midian's daughter Zipporah."And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom:..." (Ex. 2:21-22)
5. "Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian:..." (Ex. 3:1)