Is priestly celibacy linked to inheritance?

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ruth80

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Many times when talking to Catholics and Protestants alike I’ve heard the claim that the Church “tightened the reins” on priestly celibacy in the west because the Church was losing land as the children of priests inherited it. To me this sounds ridiculous, but I don’t know what to say in response. Where does this claim come from and what is the real story? Is there any connection between celibacy and land inheritance that you know of? Thanks so much for your help and God bless you!
 
Hi Ruth,

If that was the case, then why has obligatory celibacy continued to the present time? Such a reason would be as preposterous now as it would have been then. It was a long time coming. It didn’t happen in a day. For the history of priestly celibacy in the western Church, see this article in the original Catholic Encyclopedia. It begins half-way into the article:

Celibacy of the Clergy

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.
 
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