Why are Priests celibate?

Fr. Dom offers his thoughts on celibate priests.

[@phillipkapler8319]

Something often presumed in these discussions is that the celibate priesthood or consecrated religious convent is a stern discipline the Church IMPOSED on the religious. Actually, when celibacy became the policy of the Church in A.D. 1139, it was greeted with something of a yawn, as celibacy was already part of the vows of most religious orders. It was deemed the simplest and most efficacious state for those committed to the ministry centuries before the adoption of celibacy as a formal, Church-wide discipline. Again, as Fr. Dominic makes clear, it is a discipline, not a fundamental dogma.

[@Hunter-ox6kh]

This was awesome. Thanks for sharing!

[@graeme.cabrera]

Here's something I've been thinking about: Francis of Assisi, without a shred of doubt, knew that vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience would make him stronger and better equipped to serve The Lord. How was this an easy, rational decision for Francis? He met The King. When The King gives you guidance on how to not suffer stupidly and die, how better to serve Him, and then offers you magic-imbued rings (two) and an amulet (like an RPG; which only work as long as their corresponding values---chastity, poverty, obedience---are maintained), the rational decision becomes "oh heck yeah, thank You so much, I'll never stop striving for You". No human criticism, mocking, attacking, or negativity matters after you meet The King and begin to make your life right with Him.

[@Hewhoyettoknowhimself]

I agree that there is a big cultural difference between East and West Catholic. When I went to the Ukraine, basically the parish is at most quarter size of western size's. That's one of the reason that Eastern Churches average parishioner is taken care more than the West. And in the case kid's baseball/graduation, usually they will have neighboring priest as a backup. So yes, if the west want to adapt married clergy, the parishes should be resize, and monastery should be strengthen, something that is lacking in the west nowdays...

[@frankribeiro399]

God deserves the best love in his name to serve the people and the church full time.What a noble vocation!

[@tumarbongrox6074]

I think thousands of priests are *FOOLING* their parishioners! Not only are priests having SEX....thousands of them world wide have neen RAPING innocent children for *DECADES!* kzbin.info/www/bejne/apysmphum7uchsk

[@savedbygrace8337]

Catholic Church Cover-up: 300 Priests Sexually Abused 1,000 Children in Pennsylvania

[@Whitemike63]

If you don't want a hard on start taking effexor, those dr's forced that on me for years thinking another medication caused that problem. Xanax can also do it in a smaller way. If you have high T then what do you do

[@FinalLugiaGuardian]

If married priests ever become a mainstream part of the Latin Church, maybe there needs to be an "on call" period for priets in which the priest knows in advance he could be called into work at any moment during that period, but also there would be an off duty time in which the priest can be with his wife and children and know there will not be any interruption.

[@christophersalinas2722]

Yeah maybe if like 20% of the male catholic population was priests

[@heaveningearth]

Remembering the Glory Be, Christ’s Catholic Church, ought to go back to how it was a thousand years ago. Interesting you hesitated on the word vow, replacing it with promise, as we’re not supposed to make vows Matthew 5:34 Great courage, brother 💌 I do recognize Jesus commends those who can sacrifice as you. I think it is wrong to make it a requirement however. Would love to talk with you on my issues with Catholicism, being raised Catholic and trying to honour it, I see a lot we can change to humble ourselves and in doing so help unite Christianity, for Jesus’ ecumenical prayer. To better testify to the world!

[@phillipkapler8319]

Matthew 5:34 is not really about priestly vows. It is about swearing on statements by reference to something else to try to magnify their credibility (e.g. "I swear on my mother's grave" or "I swear by my life that..."). When people couch their terms by such adjuncts to an oath, they are embellishing their words. Police investigators and trial lawyers consider such embellishments as clues that a witness is not telling the whole truth. Christ says let your Yes be Yes, your No be No; that is, don't try to magnify the sincerity of your words by such bluster or reference. Rather, let your words, if true, stand for themselves. Does this help?

[@gdust6579]

Thx for the info. It kind of makes sense cause if a priest goes back to have relations with his wife every day, hes not entirely holy I suppose? And his advice he could give might be distorted by his marriage or thinking about the relations he had with his wife last night 😳 Is that also why priests are celibate?

[@akiram6609]

No. The Church doesn’t teach that sex is bad, in the context of marriage. It does not subtract from holiness. Celibacy is often practiced by Catholic priests because they are following in the footsteps of Jesus who was also celibate. Priests are the spiritual fathers of the parish. Having said that, celibacy is a discipline, so it’s not a hard and fast rule on the level of a dogma, so married men can be ordained occasionally.

[@Strive1974]

Priests need to have the Lord as first Husbands do as well, but as weak men like Adam, sometimes we fall short and submit to the will of our wives, right or wrong. The temptation needs to be removed for Holy men. To manage a Parish, pray and be head of the family is a tall order. I have much respect for these men the older and wiser I get.

[@savedbygrace8337]

Catholic Church Cover-up: 300 Priests Sexually Abused 1,000 Children in Pennsylvania

[@guidositanggang2538]

I thinks it is good if someone feel called to celibacy and wanting to be a celibate man but to make it as absolute requirement as currently Catholic Rome have is something that I am disagree with. I assume underline of this is about power, money and control that Vatican want to continue. Anyway can you give me a valid data, why is that if celibate man will serve better in comparison to a married man? Many celibate priests that I know are lazy, and living in some addiction like alcoholism, some also are homo sexual. So what does it mean celibate for them? Some of married man actually can do ministry better as their wife, and children also very supportive and involve in ministry. In addition married priests homily and reflection will more relate to parishioners life. They know what does it mean to have family, facing conflict in family, difficulties in rising children, and challenge in many areas that relate to peoples life where as priest can be just talk theoretically without knowing actual reality.

[@fr.dominicclemente1943]

The call to celibacy has nothing to do with power, it's about sacrifice and conforming our life to Jesus Christ who was also celibate. While I don't doubt married clergy in other denominations have many positive qualities, Catholic priests are celibate as a way of becoming as much like Jesus as we can. Married clergy suffer from addictions and sin in the same way celibate priests do. The church has never argued that celibacy stops priests from sinning. We need grace and the Sacraments as much as anyone else to help us grow in holiness. Celibacy is an invitation to sacrifice ourself, put Christ at the center of our life, and hopefully become as much like Jesus as we can. Some are better at it than others, but no one is perfect except Jesus and our Blessed Mother.

[@isoldam]

@@fr.dominicclemente1943 Hi Fr. Dominic. Thank you for answering this question. I've been trying to explain celibacy and other Catholic practices to Protestant and secular friends who criticize the Catholic Church and the clergy. I'm not very good at it, unfortunately. Thank you for giving me a better answer!

[@savedbygrace8337]

1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

[@gloriabandy]

I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. 1 Corinthians 7:7 Marriage is a reflection of Christ's relationship with the church (Ephesians 5:22-33) Some of Jesus's apostles and disciples were married, others were single. I don't recall Our Lord mandating one vocation over another. What if today we had priests who are called to celibacy and others called to marriage, the way it was in the early church?

[@christophersalinas2722]

Jesus was celibate and Paul asked the Corinthians to be celibate if possible. This should not be seen as an extraordinary request from our PRIESTS

[@markfultonorg]

So their assets remain church property.

[@sallywalker6012]

If doctors, first responders and others can balance family and work life, I think priests could do so as well. Married priests would adapt. Plus, I suspect more men would follow this calling if they had the option to marry.

[@fr.dominicclemente1943]

Protestant and orthodox clergy who are married have lower numbers of active clergy (for both men and women) than Catholic priests. Allowing for marriage does not automatically mean more will “sign up.” The other professions you listed are not working 24/7/365. They all have time off and their clients understand their time off. This is not the case with priests. It’s not a complaint on my end, I love serving the people of God, but it’s a different life from other “jobs.”

[@sallywalker6012]

Thank you for your insight, Father. And thank you for what you do for the salvation of souls. I'm curious about this topic because im writing a (fictional) story of a priest who struggles and potentially wanders away from his vows (in a heterosexual relationship). From my recent research I'm reading that a majority of priests at one point or another fall away from the celibate life, even if it is momentarially. Personally, I'd rather priests had the option to marry than sneak around. And i would prefer they had they had the option to marry than be tempted into a "Leviticus" lifestyle. From what I understand the edict for celibacy came as a result of the married priests bequeathing their estates to family and not the Church and had nothing to do with the true ministering of their flock. I'm open to your insight if you have a moment to elaborate.

[@lesd2633]

Aha! You just make his point more vivid! Doctors and the other professions do NOT sacrifice everything for their patients and they are even getting paid! How many women have had to schedule around their doctors vacation or other obligations that come up.. get with it lady!

[@chrisobrien6254]

If you have no inclination or even a little bit of attraction to life long celibacy then it likely means you’re aren’t called to priesthood anyway. I mean do you think God would call you to marry a girl you weren’t attracted to at all or do you think he’d prefer you marry someone that you’re deeply in love with? Imagine telling your wife well honey I’m not really attracted to you and I don’t have feelings for you and I never did but I married you because I thought it was my moral duty😑…..do you think her reaction to that would be extreme gratitude or ? 🫤 that would not exactly make a woman blush 😑. a vocation is a call to do what you love! It’s not a Draft notice, which is something that you have to yield to whether or not you possess the ability to freely choose it. For instance in my chase I love being a dad, absolutely love it. Some people see it as a huge boring sacrifice, not me! I could not do otherwise. And hopefully most priests can say the same. Also trust me, being married is every bit as much if not more of a sacrifice as not being married. It’s not easy 😑😅

[@brianeaton9046]

Not being celibate is the main reason I don’t take Protestant ministers seriously.

[@edensessentialsnaturalwell8564]

Priests were married in the Bible

[@FinalLugiaGuardian]

@@edensessentialsnaturalwell8564 Some Catholic priests are married even now. It is possible, but the culture and infrastructure of the church would have to be significantly reworked to accommodate for that change to take place church wide.

[@savedbygrace8337]

1 Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”

[@savedbygrace8337]

1 Timothy 4:3 “Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”

[@andrewplater1782]

Paedophilia within the Catholic priesthood is a major problem.

[@jonyivre4541]

Ask a (Honest) Married Man!

[@alberpajares4792]

It’s ethical to get rid of sexual relationships?

[@Reid-yy5nw]

In the CULT getting into the altar boy's pants is all a priest has to do to be ETHICAL!

[@fr.dominicclemente1943]

Celibacy has nothing to do with ethics. There's no moral question around celibacy. Jesus Himself was celibate.

[@thinman8621]

Long tradition of celibacy in Western Church. Yes, it would take a cultural change to modify the tradition.

[@matthewjansen3297]

Because they misunderstood … He said celebrate … not celibate

[@SrGemmaRose]

Priests and religious want celibacy. He’s sitting here telling us all why he loves being celibate and all the comments are why priests shouldn’t be celibate. They want that. It’s the laity that aren’t called to it that don’t want it. It’s because they aren’t called to it.

[@Tyrock67]

How does a dr have a family and still practice medicine? It's called leading a balanced life. Celibacy is a control measure from the past. There is no need for it today. In fact, do you really believe all priests keep their vows of celibacy?

[@christophersalinas2722]

seriously comparing a priest to a doctor?

[@savedbygrace8337]

It’s another catholic pseudo-mystical Doctrine.the “faithful” Are told that their priests Can go to school to learn how to forgive sin. Blasphemy.

[@jamiepeters5933]

Sacrament of Holy orders. Apostolic succession

[@savedbygrace8337]

@@jamiepeters5933 sacraments are invention of the Catholic Church,no biblical foundation , Same thing with apostolic succession. Same thing with immaculate conception of mary.don’t you think that for the first time In human history someone born without sin Even predating the birth of JESUS HIMSELF, would at least be mentioned in the Bible, Any bible? Even the catholic bible???? Catholic doctrine is invented as needed!

[@savedbygrace8337]

@@jamiepeters5933 stop blindly believing what You are told to believe. “SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES FOR IN THEM YOU THINK YOU HAVE ETERNAL LOFE”

[@jamiepeters5933]

@savedbygrace8337 I'd rather believe in Saints and great Dr's of the church than some random on KZbin. I've been a Christian for 17 years and have been guided by the Holy spirit. There was only 1 United Church for 1,500 years. I think you need to review your understanding.

[@savedbygrace8337]

@@jamiepeters5933 2 Corinthians 13:13 “All the saints salute you.” Philippians 4:22 “All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.” Romans 15:25 “But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.”

[@markballantyne393]

Are they celibate, really.

[@blazel492]

Peter was a married man.

[@christophersalinas2722]

Source for that? His wife was likely dead by the time the MIL story happened

[@blazel492]

@@christophersalinas2722 that is morbid speculation, and who cares either way, he was still married.

[@blazel492]

Paul mentions that Peter and other apostles, including the brothers of Jesus, had wives; Cephas is Peter: "Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?" -1 Corinthians 9:5

[@blazel492]

That whole passage (read the whole thing, not just 5) suggests that Paul and other apostles, including Peter (Cephas), had the right to be accompanied by their wives in their ministry.

[@blazel492]

In truth, back in those days, an unmarrird male would have been considered strange. So I wouldn’t doubt if Jesus himself were also married, as per the Gospel of Mary Magdalene and the Gospel of Philip…these are not canonical texts, but they are real texts. If so, I am also not surprised why they are not canonical.

[@ciscodealmeida8541]

Jesus said, if you marry you do good,if you dont you do better.Most Essenes were celibate

[@stevostevozz1168]

But not a requirement..any body can choose to not marry and serve God but the problem is making it a must for priesthood...

[@ciscodealmeida8541]

@@stevostevozz1168 yes. they know before hand the rules, so why join and then try to undermine the rules. no way.

[@stevostevozz1168]

@@ciscodealmeida8541 the original rule was changed because the Catholic church did not want widows or ex wives to inherit property of the priests back then..never was it because God called them to celibacy...it actually was borrowed from Buddhism...the celibate monk lifestyle...some including this current pope has mentioned about the possibility of priests marrying which should be the standard before 13 th century...God never called all priests to not marry..we could use the case of a few priests who choose not to marry but not as a requirement for priesthood...the doctrine of limbo was removed by the pope ratzinger...these doctrines that are made that aren't biblical can always be changed...

[@ciscodealmeida8541]

@@stevostevozz1168 i dont disagree with you, i just say that if the rule is the way it is, it should not be changed by convincing pressure by those in favor to marry. but to have a wife and then children will take a lot a attention so less for others and self growth will slow, unless one is lucky to marry a helper .

[@stevostevozz1168]

@@ciscodealmeida8541 the first apostle were married...they served God better than us... prophets of old had wives served God passionately...if you have a wife that equally passionate is very important..but a blanket requirement for priesthood is where the problem is...I think they should also increase layman participation beyond what it is now..there is just to much pressure on priests and nuns...I don't think it's the pressure to get married for priests but the pressure on them to stay chaste...we should not pressure the papacy to change but encourage dialogue and atleast open the possibility of marriage priests..other Christian denominations there is no pressure to be celibate but many are encouraged to marry so as to avoid fornication.

[@gregor2833]

No offence but I think that cellibate should not be requirement to become a priest. The only requirement should be a love to God. Also in many towns there is a shortage of priests and I'm sure that more people would be interested to become a priest if church give them a choice to have a family.

[@fr.dominicclemente1943]

No offense taken, but there's also a shortage of clergy people among protestant churches, too. So, married clergy doesn't equal more clergy people.

[@marymccloskey1201]

Our Catholic Church has Original Rule ‘s God created them and They should not ever be altered ✝️🙏✝️❣️

[@TomVenad]

I am part of the eastern catholic community, and I have many cousins and uncles who are priests. I can say that a cellibant priest gives 110% for his church or his vocation

[@draccompo3386]

People always say that priests should be allowed to marry and most have said to me that's why some priest molested childern . First of all, the one going for the priesthood know the law before they enter the church on priesthood. Second, dont judge all priests over a few who did wrong. Let me tell you there are way more child molesters outside the church that are married in families and so on out there . So, your arguments you people throw at the church out there have no common sense.

[@gregor2833]

@@draccompo3386 men is always a man and need woman, there is no reason why priest must be single all life. he still will have time for his family after mass. I work 10 hours, much harder than them and i still have time for my family.

[@russellmiles2861]

I imagine they are afraid of women. Goosh, why did God provide sex, children and family relationships.

[@adelinomorte7421]

***NEWFOBIA***

[@ciscodealmeida8541]

Dominic a good few weeks fasting would do you good lol

[@dmcorrigan]

And get in the gym.

[@kenhall855]

The Catholic church required celibacy so that Rome could aquire the parish properties instead of a married priest's kids. Also, married episcopalian priests are becoming Catholic priests . This priest is talking gibberish.

[@christophersalinas2722]

lmfao

[@msgoody2shoes959]

Next to None of them are.... and it's gullible of the laity to want them to be.

[@RPlavo]

Totally correct-they live in a bubble and no wonder they have nothing to say on Sunday

[@ciscodealmeida8541]

Its debatable due to the fact Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene.

[@andrewplater1782]

Evidence?

[@savedbygrace8337]

ing James Bible A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

[@josephzizza5508]

The Catholic Church wasn't always celibate. The first priests were the apostles. They were hand-picked by Christ. Eleven of the apostles were married. The reason priests are celibate is because of money. The priests at the starting of the Church were married. They had families. They raises their families in the villages or towns. The people in the village loved the priest. They loved the priest so much that they would bequeath a house or a piece of land to the priest and the priest would live in the house or on the land and everyone was happy. The problem arose when the priest died. The family would want to continue to live on the land or in the house. The Church claimed that the house or land belonged to the Church; the family claimed it belonged to the family. There were court cases and the Church lost many of those cases. The Pope stepped in in the tenth century and put a stop to all these court cases by invoking the doctrine of celibacy. It's all about money. By the way, in my Church we have a married priest. It's all about money.

[@lawtonblandford4100]

TOTALLY CORRECT!

[@user-fc1ld9ts8u]

The priest actually tells you the reason he is celibate and you challenge him with history and suppositions that defy the truth he tells you.

[@christophersalinas2722]

lmfao you’re hilarious