Why do the Western rites of the Church RARELY permit married priests when St. Peter was married?

[Coder]

Council of Trent: “CANON X. If any one says that the marriage state is to be placed above the state of virginity, or of celibacy, and that it is not better and more blessed to remain in virginity, or in celibacy, than to be united in matrimony; let him be anathema.”

Well if this is teaching that it’s better for everyone then would this not also teach that it is better if the human race stops reproducing and ends?

 

[Abu]

Coder
Well if this is teaching that it’s better for everyone then would this not also teach that it is better if the human race stops reproducing and ends?

Your conclusion is incorrect, as there is nothing that teaches “for everyone” – the teaching identifies clerical celibacy for the Kingdom as better than Holy Matrimony, thus encouraging celibacy for priests.

The Magisterium teaches:
32. This doctrine of the excellence of virginity and of celibacy and of their superiority over the married state was, as We have already said, revealed by our Divine Redeemer and by the Apostle of the Gentiles; so too, it was solemnly defined as a dogma of divine faith by the holy council of Trent,[57] and explained in the same way by all the holy Fathers and Doctors of the Church. Finally, We and Our Predecessors have often expounded it and earnestly advocated it whenever occasion offered. But recent attacks on this traditional doctrine of the Church, the danger they constitute, and the harm they do to the souls of the faithful lead Us, in fulfillment of the duties of Our charge, to take up the matter once again in this Encyclical Letter, and to reprove these errors which are so often propounded under a specious appearance of truth.
(Sacra Virginitas, Encyclical Of Pope Pius XII, 1954)

Vatican II, gives the correct perspective: “that students for the priesthood, while having a proper knowledge of the dignity of marriage, 'should recognise the greater excellence of virginity consecrated to Christ" (Decree on the Training of Priests, n.10)."

Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation *Evangelica testificatio *on the renewal of religious life according to the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, June 29th, 1971:
“For our part, We must be firmly and surely convinced that the value and the fruitfulness of chastity observed for love of God in religious celibacy find their ultimate basis in nothing other than the Word of God, the teachings of Christ, the life of His Virgin Mother and also the apostolic tradition, as it has been unceasingly affirmed by the Church.”

 

[Coder]

Your conclusion is incorrect, as there is nothing that teaches “for everyone” – the teaching identifies clerical celibacy for the Kingdom as better than Holy Matrimony, thus encouraging celibacy for priests.

Where is there is an exclusion of the concept that celibacy would be better for everyone?

 

[Abu]

Apart from your assumption, where does Christ’s Church teach that celibacy would be better for everyone?

 

[Coder]

Apart from your assumption, where does Christ’s Church teach that celibacy would be better for everyone?

Let is discuss it as an open question then and I don’t assume to have the answer. In order to continue the human race, some would need to marry. Is the Church teaching that some do need to marry to continue the human race so therefore celibacy is not better for everyone in general?

 

[Abu]

Coder
Is the Church teaching that some do need to marry to continue the human race so therefore celibacy is not better for everyone in general?

Always has: as a sacrament instituted by Christ, marriage reflects the union between Christ and His Church with its duties to be fulfilled “out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21-33). It is the natural way to increase and multiply and fill the earth.

 

[Coder]

Council of Trent: “CANON X. If any one says … that it is not better and more blessed to remain in virginity, or in celibacy, than to be united in matrimony; let him be anathema.”

But this seems clear that virginity as well as celibacy is better so doesn’t this apply to everyone?

 

[GEddie]

But this seems clear that virginity as well as celibacy is better so doesn’t this apply to everyone?

I imagine that our LORD said it best: “Not everyone can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given…for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.”

 

[Coder]

I imagine that our LORD said it best: “Not everyone can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given…for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.”

Thank you, that’s great.

 

[kepha1]

[bibledrb]Matthew 8:14[/bibledrb]

Some traditions say that St. Peter was married with children befor he was call to be an apostle.newadvent.org/cathen/11744a.htm I know that the Pope is only required to be a Catholic man, so there will always be a successor to St. Peter until the coming of the Lord. If ST. Peter was married why aren’t more married men allowed to become priests? I admire and respect chaste priests, but is it necessary?

Celibate priests are not necessary, celibacy is RECOMMENDED. I think Peter was widowed. Jewish custom does not permit the mother-in-law to wait on guests in the home of her son and daughter and law. It would be an offense to Peter’s wife, a cultural tabboo, unless she was an invalid or dead. For Peter to interceed on behalf of his sick mother-in-law while leaving his wife an invalid doesn’t make any sense, and for Peter’s wife to be visiting friends and neighbors after he had been away makes no sense either. The Bible does not explicity state she was dead, but there are enough clues to warrant doubt that she was even there.

peary added:

But we also have this quote from Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:5 - “Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?” So, we DO know that Peter’s wife accompanied him on his journeys.

Do we know for certain that each and every Apostle had a wife? “other Apostles” does not mean each and every Apostle, it’s a generality. St. Paul is not writing a treatice on celibacy in 1 Corinthians 9, he is making the point that full time ministers of the Church have entitlements to go with their resonsibilities.

St. Paul is not saying, “you have no right to be an Apostle unless you are married”, and in verse 5, it does not state expicitly that each and every single Apostle had a wife. Even if Peter had a living wife, it still has no bearing on Jesus and Paul’s clear teaching that marriage is GOOD, and celibacy is BETTER.

Because the function is different does not make one holier than the other. I think it is a mistake to regard the religious as somehow closer to God than married people.

Remember, the Father chose Peter to reveal who Jesus was, therefore his marital status is irrelevant anyway.

Peter was widowed and if there are any sensible arguments to the contrary, I would like to see them.

 

[Abu]

kepha1
Celibate priests are not necessary, celibacy is RECOMMENDED.

Not necessary? See post #17 – Priestly Celibacy is an Apostolic Norm
Celibacy required for priests is from the time of the apostles, and obligatory, as confirmed by all scholarship, and by the Fathers and Popes.

Any relaxation of this norm is strictly limited and confined to exceptional circumstances.

 

[kepha1]

I stand corrected, Abu, but I still say Pope St. Peter was widowed.