Is Celibacy a Requirement for Christian Ministers?

RELIGIONS around the world-such as the Roman Catholic Church, the various Orthodox churches, Buddhism, and others-require  celibacy of their religious leaders and clergy. On the other hand, many people feel that this practice lies at the root of the recent wave of sexual scandals involving clerics of various religions. 

 It is, therefore, reasonable to ask, Is celibacy a Scriptural requirement for Christian ministers? to answer that question, let us consider the origin and development of this practice as well as God's view of it.

CELIBACY IN RELIGIOUS HISTORY

The Encyclopedia Britannica defines celibacy as "the state of being unmarried and, therefore, sexually abstinent, usually in association with the role of a religious official or devotee."  In a 2006 address to the Roman Curia, then Pope Benedict XVI linked compulsory  celibacy to "a tradition that dates back to epoch close to that of the apostles."

Celibacy, however, was not a religious custom practiced by first-century Christians in fact, the apostle Paul, who lived in the first century believers about men who would make "misleading inspired statements" and forbid marriage." -1 Timothy 4:1-3.

It was during the second century that the practice of celibacy began to make its way into the Western "Christian" churches. According to the book Celibacy and Religious Traditions, this was "consistent with the new wave of sexual restraint that arose in the Roman Empire."

In the following centuries, church councils and so-called Church Fathers promoted clerical celibacy.  They though that sexual intercourse was defiling and incompatible with clerical duties. Nevertheless, the Encyclopedia Britannica points out that "as late as the 10 century many priests and even some bishops had wives." 

Clerical celibacy was enforced during the Lateran Councils of 1123 and 1139, which were held in Rome, and it has remained the official position of the Roman Catholic Church to the present day. With this measure, the church prevented the loss of power and income that resulted when priests who were married willed church property to their children.

Next time:  Is Celibacy a Requirement for Christian Ministers?/God's View of Celibacy

From the Watchtower magazine