Priests had common law wives?

[kmmd]

In an article about the new instructions from the Vatican in the Rochester (New York) newspaper, CityNews, it says the following:

“I think celibacy is an issue,” says Thibodeau. “I think it is something that still has to be looked at. The parish priests in the first thousand years in the history of the Catholic Church had common-law wives. It’s only in the 11th century that the Roman Catholic Church insisted on celibate males.”

I have heard this argument before, that celibacy was not the rule until the 11th century. Can some one help me out with the historical accuracy of this statement?

 

[thistle]

kmmd:

In an article about the new instructions from the Vatican in the Rochester (New York) newspaper, CityNews, it says the following:

“I think celibacy is an issue,” says Thibodeau. “I think it is something that still has to be looked at. The parish priests in the first thousand years in the history of the Catholic Church had common-law wives. It’s only in the 11th century that the Roman Catholic Church insisted on celibate males.”

I have heard this argument before, that celibacy was not the rule until the 11th century. Can some one help me out with the historical accuracy of this statement?

Even if celibacy was not the rule until 11th century common-law wives by definition would mean invalid marriages and consequently each priest living under these circumstances would be in a state of mortal sin so I do not believe that story.

 

[Scott_Waddell]

It does not matter one whit if the Church instituted priestly celibacy in the 1st century, the 11th century, or 11 o’clock yesterday. All that matters is that the Church is using its prudential judgement aided by the Holy Spirit and if it says the discipline stays, so be it.

Scott

 

[Joe_Kelley]

As I recall common law is an English institution developed well after the first millenium.