When did Catholic priests start celibacy?

Answer 1

Answer # 1

No. In fact, it is expressly unbiblical. Christ's disciples were not celibate. While Jesus himself was celibate, Peter (considered by Catholics the first "Pope") and several apostles had wives, as The Bible faithfully records.. And in ancient times, marriage was not binding unless it was consummated.

This is what the Bible *does* say:

Note, the word "Bishop" is in the greek as "episcopay", which literally means 'overseer', or 'one who looks over'. So this is regarding anyone in charge in the Church.

1Timothy 3:1-5 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

Catholics have traditions that contradict the Bible because they believe the word of the Pope is "infallible" and they honor the traditions of men above the Word of God. See what Jesus said about this:

Mark 7:5-9 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

He answered and said unto them, Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

Note: Jesus is rebuking the religious priests of His day for upholding a false sense of purity, so man can feel self-righteous. Follow Jesus, not men. Follow His Word and voice only.

Note: Biblically, sex is rightly done within the context of marriage, and is considered holy.

Answer # 2 [improvements in progress]

No. The discipline of celibacy, did however, gradually grow out of the Church's understanding of the counsels of Christ and St. Paul in the Gospel of Matthew and 1 Corinthians respectively. Celibacy, or virginity for the sake of the kingdom of heaven finds its origins in the Gospel of Matthew when Christ says

Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so, some because they were made so by others; some because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it. (Matthew 19:12 NAB)

When giving advice to married couples in Corinth, St. Paul also indicates his personal preference for celibacy when he writes Indeed, I wish everyone to be as I am... 1 Cor 7:7 NAB. He later sheds some light on some of the reasons why he prefers celibacy for himself and others in serving the Lord:

I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and he is divided...I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to impose a restraint upon you, but for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without distraction. (1 Corinthians 7:32-33, 35 NAB)

It is worth noting that even among Eastern Catholics (e.g. Byzantine, Melkite, etc.) where priests may marry, celibacy is also held in high esteem precisely because of the counsels of Christ and St. Paul above, and many have also freely chosen celibacy for the kingdom of heaven. (cf. CCC 1580)

Significant figures and milestones in the history of the development of the discipline of celibacy can be found at the related link Catholic Encyclopedia: History of Clerical Celibacy below.

Another excellent resource for studying the Catholic Church's understanding of Christ's and St. Paul's counsels to celibacy can be found in John Paul II's book The Theology of the Body - Human Love in the Divine Plan at the related link below. The relevant sections of the book to study online are as follows:

• Virginity or Celibacy for the Sake of the Kingdom
• The Vocation to Continence in This Earthly Life
• Continence for the Sake of the Kingdom - and Its Spiritual Fulfillment
• The Effective and Priveleged Way of Continence
• The "Superiority" of Continence Does Not Devalue Marriage
• Marriage and Continence Complement Each Other
• The Value of Continence Is Found in Love
• Celibacy Is a Particular Response to the Love of the Divine Spouse
• Celibacy for the Kindgom Affirms Marriage
• Voluntary Continence Derives from a Counsel, Not from a Command
• "The Unmarried Person Is Anxious to Please the Lord"
• Everyone Has His Own Gift from God, Suited to His Vocation
• Man's Eternal Destiny - The Kindgom of God, Not the World
• The Mystery of the Body's Redemption

REFERENCES

Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. The New American Bible, (Iowa Falls: IA, World Bible Publishers, Inc. 1991)

Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Catechism of the Catholic Church, (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1994).

John Paul II. The Theology of the Body - Human Love in the Divine Plan, (Boston, MA: Pauline Books & Media, 1997).

Answer 2

Yes, Catholic priests have always been ordained from married men. Only in the Latin Rite in the West are only single men put up for ordination. However, all men, upon ordination make a promise of celibacy which means that if their wife dies, they may not remarry. There are some exceptions in the Latin Rite, as for instance, with converting Anglican priests who are already married, they take the same promise as Eastern Rite priests, they may remain married, but may not marry after ordination.

Answer 3

Roman Catholic AnswerIt would appear that celibacy was urged by the first generation of the church. St. Paul praises it highly, and wishes everyone to be like himself, although he only legislates that they should have only been married once. The first legislation we have on priestly celibacy was between 295 A.D. and 302 A.D. the Spanish Council of Elvira which imposed celibacy on all bishops, priests, and deacons. If they had been married before ordination and continued living with their wives they were to be deposed (canon xxxiii). The answer to the question though is right from the beginning, if you want a full discussion of when various laws were enacted enforcing celibacy, then read the article on-line from the Catholic encyclopedia (link below).

Answer 4

Yes, the Roman Catholic Church requires celibacy of its priests.

Answer 5

Catholic priests are, but they are not the only Christian denomination.