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dostoyevskyfan
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Was there one point in history when Catholic priests could get married? Weren’t most of the apostles married. Why did this change?
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Genesis315
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No, priests could never marry once ordained, however married men could be ordained priests–and they still are to this day in the Eastern rites and in certain circumstances in the Latin rite (e.g. married Anglican clergy who convert and often given a dispensation permitting them to be ordained priests.)
Celibacy, however, was always seen as the ideal for clergy as both St. Paul and Our Lord explain in Scripture. For a variety of historical and pastoral reasons, the Latin Church decided to mkae the ideal the rule and only ordain celibate men.
Celibacy, however, was always seen as the ideal for clergy as both St. Paul and Our Lord explain in Scripture. For a variety of historical and pastoral reasons, the Latin Church decided to mkae the ideal the rule and only ordain celibate men.
Mary_Gail_36
New member
Adding, if a married priest’s wife passes away, he cannot remarry. Same for a married Deacon.No, priests could never marry once ordained, however married men could be ordained priests–and they still are to this day in the Eastern rites and in certain circumstances in the Latin rite (e.g. married Anglican clergy who convert and often given a dispensation permitting them to be ordained priests.)
Celibacy, however, was always seen as the ideal for clergy as both St. Paul and Our Lord explain in Scripture. For a variety of historical and pastoral reasons, the Latin Church decided to only ordain celibate men.
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Spencerian
Guest
This article from the original Catholic Encyclopedia on the history of celibacy in the clergy should help you.Was there one point in history when Catholic priests could get married? Weren’t most of the apostles married. Why did this change?
The article indicates that celibacy was always preferred by practice for the priesthood in the Western Church, while the Eastern Churches allowed it among priests (though not bishops).
While some of the Apostles were married, it would be illogical for Christ to have any of them leave their wives. That practice continues in the Church, for there are some exceptions to the ordaining of married men to the priesthood, such as converts from the Anglican faith.
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Major_Tom
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To my knowledge, priests could never marry, though some of the apostles were.Was there one point in history when Catholic priests could get married? Weren’t most of the apostles married. Why did this change?
However, I was just reading a history of the Popes, and it seems that the celibacy component was quite routinely ignored in the Middle Ages.
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