A Celibate Priesthood?

We have observed that the concept of voluntary priestly celibacy was first formally discussed as late as the 4th century but was finally made mandatory by the Latin Church in the 11th Century.

It is well established that the earliest "presbyteroi" and "episcopoi" were married.

According to Jason Berry (NY Times), "The requirement of celibacy is not dogma; it is an ecclesiastical law that was adopted in the Middle Ages because Rome was worried that the children of clerics would inherit church property and create dynasties."

Although debunked by the Papal Commission on the Protection of Minors, many modern scholars have also been exploring the causal link between mandatory celibacy and the predominant wave of clerical sex abuse of children, resulting in the subsequent scandals which have rocked the Roman Catholic Church to its core.

It is important to realise that some twenty three Eastern Catholic Churches (which are in full communion with Rome) share the same practice of their Eastern Orthodox neighbours, which allows Marriage up until Priestly Ordination.

If a person then elects to be ordained unmarried, they choose to remain that way for life, and will usually join a monastic community.

The Catholic Episcopal Church, however, reach back to the earliest practices of "The Way" and have no opposition to our Clergy choosing to marry or remaining celibate as "those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven" Matt 19:12.

However, it must be the choice of the individual.

Our Deacons, Priests, and Bishops are, therefore, free to choose and marry a life partner, who will support them in their service of the people of God

"If any one aspires to the office of Bishop, they desire a noble task. Therefore a Bishop must be above reproach, married to one life partner, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and no lover of money" 1 Tim:3

"Don’t we have the right to take a believing life partner along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? 1 Corinthians 9:5