Mungo
Member
- Oct 21, 2019
- 2,850
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Some people claim the Catholic Church contradicts the Bible because it bans marriage.
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, through the pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and enjoin abstinence from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”(1Tim 4:1-3)
But he Catholic Church does not forbid people to marry (except for two people of the same sex and a person who is already married and I think you'll accept that as biblical).
This charge though is usually about priestly celibacy.
Two points
1. The Catholic Church does have married priests in the Eastern rites, similar to Orthodox.
2. Latin rite priests are unmarried. However it is their choice to give up the option of marriage when they become priests “because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 19:12)
"An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord." (1Cor 7:32)
If a man marries he gives up the option of being a priest (at least unless his wife dies)
Paul says “ I wish that all were as I myself am [unmarried]. But each has his own special gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. (1Cor 7:7)
Marriage and Ordination are sacraments. Whichever a person chooses he or she will be given the graces (gifts) to live the life they have chosen.
It’s a choice. No-one forces anyone to marry or become a priest.
No-one forbids anyone to marry, but some choices rule out others.
A man or woman has a choice to follow a particular calling from God. If a man chooses to become a priest in the Latin Rite then he chooses to forgo the option of marrying unless he leaves the priesthood (as some have done). He is not forced to become a priest and therefore is not forced to take a vow of celibacy. It is his choice. But as I said some choices rule out others.
If a man or a woman chooses to marry then the Church expects them to faithfully honour that choice and the promises that go with it.
Similarly if a man or a woman chooses to follow a celibate life as a priest, monk or nun then the Church expects them to faithfully honour that choice and the promises that go with it.
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, through the pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and enjoin abstinence from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”(1Tim 4:1-3)
But he Catholic Church does not forbid people to marry (except for two people of the same sex and a person who is already married and I think you'll accept that as biblical).
This charge though is usually about priestly celibacy.
Two points
1. The Catholic Church does have married priests in the Eastern rites, similar to Orthodox.
2. Latin rite priests are unmarried. However it is their choice to give up the option of marriage when they become priests “because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 19:12)
"An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord." (1Cor 7:32)
If a man marries he gives up the option of being a priest (at least unless his wife dies)
Paul says “ I wish that all were as I myself am [unmarried]. But each has his own special gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. (1Cor 7:7)
Marriage and Ordination are sacraments. Whichever a person chooses he or she will be given the graces (gifts) to live the life they have chosen.
It’s a choice. No-one forces anyone to marry or become a priest.
No-one forbids anyone to marry, but some choices rule out others.
A man or woman has a choice to follow a particular calling from God. If a man chooses to become a priest in the Latin Rite then he chooses to forgo the option of marrying unless he leaves the priesthood (as some have done). He is not forced to become a priest and therefore is not forced to take a vow of celibacy. It is his choice. But as I said some choices rule out others.
If a man or a woman chooses to marry then the Church expects them to faithfully honour that choice and the promises that go with it.
Similarly if a man or a woman chooses to follow a celibate life as a priest, monk or nun then the Church expects them to faithfully honour that choice and the promises that go with it.
