Grace Thompson
The Catholic Church's requirement for priestly celibacy has been in place for almost a millennium. However, the history of celibacy in the Christian community goes back to Jesus and St Paul, who recommended celibacy in his first letter to the Corinthians. The first written mandate requiring priests to be celibate came in AD 304, when Canon 33 of the Council of Elvira stated that all bishops, presbyters, and deacons and all other clerics were to abstain completely from their wives and not to have children. Over the centuries, the Catholic Church's position on celibacy has evolved, with some exceptions to the rule of unmarried clergy. Today, the Church distinguishes between dogma and regulations, with the ban on marriage considered a regulation that could be changed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of introduction | The first written mandate requiring priests to be chaste came in AD 304. |
| First written mandate | Canon 33 of the Council of Elvira |
| Council of Elvira | Prohibited sexual intercourse between a married priest and his wife |
| Council of Nicea | Rejected a ban on priests marrying requested by Spanish clerics |
| Second Lateran Council | Made celibacy mandatory for future priests in the Western Church |
| Catholic Church's position | Derived from the Council of Trent |
| Exceptions | Anglican ministers who were already married when they joined the Catholic Church are allowed to remain married if they choose to join the priesthood |
| Amazon synod | Opened the door to discussions of the place of celibacy in the modern Roman Catholic priesthood |
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What You'll Learn
The Council of Elvira in 304 AD
The Council of Elvira, also known as the Synod of Elvira, was an ecclesiastical synod held in the Roman province of Hispania Baetica, now Granada in southern Spain. The council is believed to have taken place in the first quarter of the fourth century, around 305-306 AD, with some sources giving a date of 304 AD. The exact year of the council is a matter of debate, with various scholars proposing different dates ranging from 300 to 324 AD.
The Council of Elvira was one of the first church councils to approach the character of a general council and is believed to have been attended by nineteen bishops and twenty-four to twenty-six presbyters, mostly from Hispania Baetica and Carthago Nova. The council also included the participation of deacons and laymen.
The council produced eighty-one canons, all concerning order, discipline, and conduct among the Christian community. While the exact content of these canons is not entirely clear, they are believed to have covered a range of topics, including marriage, baptism, idolatry, fasting, excommunication, and the relations of Christians with pagans, Jews, and heretics.
One of the most significant canons produced by the Council of Elvira is Canon 33 (or Canon XXXIII), which addressed clerical celibacy. This canon stated that "bishops, presbyters, and deacons, and all other clerics" were to "abstain completely from their wives and not to have children." This was the first written mandate requiring priests to be chaste and has been interpreted as prohibiting sexual intercourse between married priests and their wives. The canon is believed to be related to Canon 27, which called for clergy to refrain from living with women unless they were relatives.
The Council of Elvira's canons, particularly those related to celibacy and the prohibition of images in churches, have been a subject of debate and interpretation over the centuries, with different scholars and religious traditions offering varying interpretations. The council's legacy continues to be influential in the modern debates surrounding celibacy in the Catholic Church.
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The Council of Nicea in 325 AD
The Council of Nicea also addressed the issue of celibacy among the clergy. While some sources suggest that the council rejected a ban on priests marrying, others indicate that it issued decrees prohibiting the cohabitation of women with bishops, presbyters, and deacons due to their celibacy. The council decreed that these members of the clergy should not live with women, nor escort them, nor be familiar with them, nor gaze upon them persistently. However, exceptions were made for older women, such as sisters, mothers, aunts, or grandmothers, as they were considered free from suspicion of scandal.
The Council of Nicea played a significant role in shaping the beliefs and practices of the early Christian church, including the affirmation of the divinity of Christ and the establishment of the Nicene Creed. The council's efforts to attain consensus and address the entire body of believers set a precedent for future ecumenical councils in the church.
The issue of celibacy in the clergy has continued to be a topic of discussion and debate within the Catholic Church. While the Council of Nicea did not enforce mandatory celibacy, it laid the foundation for subsequent discussions and regulations regarding clerical celibacy. Over time, the Catholic Church has placed increasing emphasis on celibacy as an important part of the priesthood, representing a priest's commitment to God and service. However, there have also been calls for reform and relaxation of these celibacy requirements, particularly in modern times.
Overall, the Council of Nicea in 325 AD served as a pivotal moment in the history of the Christian church, shaping its theology, practices, and organizational structure. While the council's direct impact on the enforcement of celibacy among the clergy is debated, it contributed to the ongoing dialogue and development of regulations surrounding this issue within the Catholic Church.
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The Second Lateran Council in 1139 AD
In 1139 AD, the Second Lateran Council was summoned by Pope Innocent II and held in the Lateran basilica. The council was convened to address several issues, including ending the schism caused by the election of Anacletus II, a rival pope, and condemning the followers of Arnold of Brescia, who opposed the pope's temporal power.
One of the significant outcomes of the Second Lateran Council was the implementation of mandatory celibacy for priests in the Western Church. This decision built upon earlier discussions within the Catholic Church about celibacy, which dated back almost a millennium. While the Church had previously recommended celibacy, it was not strictly enforced until the council's decree.
The council's decision to mandate celibacy for priests had several implications. Firstly, it prohibited sexual intercourse between married priests and their wives, which was already enforced by the Council of Elvira in southern Spain by 303. Secondly, it contributed to the Church's stance on the inheritance of church property and the appointment of clergy, as it prevented priests' children from inheriting their fathers' possessions or positions.
The Second Lateran Council's decree on celibacy was a significant turning point in the Catholic Church's history, shaping the discipline and traditions that have endured for centuries. However, it is important to note that there have been exceptions and ongoing discussions within the Church regarding the relaxation of this rule, particularly in modern times.
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The Council of Trent
The discussion around celibacy at the Council of Trent was influenced by Paul's discourse on relationships in 1 Corinthians 7, where he expresses his wish for people to be unmarried and focused solely on God, following the example of Christ's celibacy. The council's stance on celibacy has been interpreted as a response to Protestant critiques and a defence of the Catholic Church's position on the matter.
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The Amazon synod
The Synod addressed the dramatic state of destruction affecting the Amazon and its inhabitants, especially the indigenous peoples. The Amazon rainforest is a "biological heart" for the increasingly threatened Earth, and its disappearance will have a catastrophic impact on the planet as a whole. As such, the Synod sought to generate a greater missionary impulse among native vocations, with the belief that the Amazon should be evangelized by its own people. It also urged the creation of a pastoral socio-environmental office to strengthen the defence of life, working with various actors, including representatives of indigenous peoples, to defend the rights of the most vulnerable.
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Frequently asked questions
The first written mandate requiring priests to be celibate came in AD 304. Canon 33 of the Council of Elvira stated that all "bishops, presbyters, and deacons and all other clerics" were to "abstain completely from their wives and not to have children."
The Catholic Church's position today is derived from the Council of Trent. Celibacy is considered an important part of the priesthood, a sign of a priest's commitment to God and service. However, there are some exceptions to the rule of unmarried clergy.
Anglican ministers who were already married when they joined the Catholic Church are allowed to remain married if they choose to join the priesthood. In addition, some married, Protestant ministers have been ordained as Catholic priests in the last 40 years.
