Rachel Evans
The Catholic Church's Latin rite, which principally follows the discipline of clerical celibacy, does not allow priests to marry. This discipline does not apply to the Eastern Catholic Churches, which ordain married men as priests. The Catholic Church distinguishes between dogma and regulations, and the ban on marriage is considered a regulation. In the 12th century, a Vatican Council legislated celibacy for all future priests throughout the Catholic Church. However, the practice of priestly celibacy began to spread in the Western Church in the early Middle Ages, and the first written mandate requiring priests to be chaste came in AD 304.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of prohibition | The 12th century, or the Middle Ages |
| Who | The Vatican Council |
| Exceptions | Married male Lutherans, Anglicans and other Protestants who convert to the Catholic Church |
| Reasoning | To prevent priests' children from inheriting church property and creating dynasties; to control priests' money and employment; to raise the prestige of the church |
| Alternative theories | That it was due to Jesus choosing to be celibate; that it was to prevent homosexuality and illicit fornication |
| Modern views | The ban on marriage is a regulation, not dogma, and could be changed by the pope |
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What You'll Learn
- The Catholic Church distinguishes between dogma and regulations
- The Council of Elvira in 304 AD mandated priests to be chaste
- The Second Lateran Council in 1139 AD made celibacy mandatory
- The Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches ordain married men
- Exceptions are made for married Protestant ministers who convert
The Catholic Church distinguishes between dogma and regulations
The Catholic Church makes a distinction between dogma and regulations. A dogma of the Catholic Church is defined as "a truth revealed by God, which the magisterium of the Church declared as binding". Dogma has a twofold relation: to divine revelation and to the authoritative teaching of the Church. Theologians distinguish three classes of revealed truths: truths formally and explicitly revealed; truths revealed formally, but only implicitly; and truths only virtually revealed. A truth is said to be formally revealed when the speaker or revealer intends to convey that truth using clear and express terms. It is said to be revealed only virtually when it is inferred from something formally revealed.
Dogma is considered immutable, or unchanging, and is not to be confused with doctrine, which is all Church teaching in matters of faith and morals. Doctrine can be modified or even abandoned under the guidance of the church's magisterium. Dogma, on the other hand, is irreversible by papal decree. Examples of dogma include the existence of God, the Trinity, the Incarnation, the Resurrection of Christ, the sacraments, and a future judgment.
Regulations, on the other hand, are ecclesiastical laws that can be changed. The Catholic Church's ban on marriage for priests is considered a regulation and not a doctrine. The requirement of celibacy was adopted in the Middle Ages because Rome was concerned that clerics' children would inherit church property and create dynasties. The first written mandate requiring priests to be chaste 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." However, in 325, the Council of Nicea, convened by Constantine, rejected a ban on priests marrying requested by Spanish clerics. The practice of priestly celibacy began to spread in the Western Church in the early Middle Ages.
While the Latin Church, one of the 24 rites of the Catholic Church, does not ordain married men, the Eastern Catholic Churches permit married men to be ordained with the exception of the Ethiopian Catholic Church. Exceptions are sometimes made for married male Lutheran, Anglican, and other Protestant clergy who convert to the Catholic Church.
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The Council of Elvira in 304 AD mandated priests to be chaste
The Council of Elvira, held in the early fourth century (approximately 304-306 AD), was one of the first ecclesiastical councils of its kind and set a precedent for future general councils. The council was convened in the Roman province of Hispania Baetica, now Granada in southern Spain, and was attended by nineteen bishops, twenty-six to twenty-four presbyters, deacons, and laymen. The canons adopted at the council reflected the internal life and external relations of the Spanish Church at the time.
Canon 33 of the Council of Elvira mandated that "bishops, presbyters, and deacons and all other clerics" were to "abstain completely from their wives and not have children." This was the first written mandate requiring priests to be chaste and marked a significant development in the early Christian church, which previously had no explicit rule against clergy marrying and having children.
The Council of Elvira's decision was influenced by the belief that religious figures should embody purity and chastity, a concept that predated Christianity. Ancient Druid priests and Aztec temple priests, for example, were expected to remain celibate or sexually abstinent. Additionally, the life and teachings of Jesus, who lived a chaste life, provided a theological basis for the mandate.
The Council of Elvira's ruling on priestly celibacy was not immediately enforced throughout the Catholic Church. In 325 AD, the Council of Nicea, convened by Constantine, rejected a ban on priests marrying requested by Spanish clerics. It wasn't until the Middle Ages that the practice of priestly celibacy began to spread in the Western Church. Over time, the Catholic Church came to view celibacy as an essential aspect of the priesthood, symbolizing a priest's commitment to God and their service.
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The Second Lateran Council in 1139 AD made celibacy mandatory
The Catholic Church has a long and complex history surrounding the issue of priestly celibacy and marriage. The Second Lateran Council, convened in 1139 AD, was a significant turning point as it officially mandated celibacy for all future priests in the Western Church, marking a decisive shift in the Church's stance. This decision carried substantial weight and set a precedent that would influence the Church's discipline for centuries to come.
Prior to the Second Lateran Council, the early Christian church did not have a strict prohibition against clergy members marrying and having children. In fact, there is biblical evidence suggesting that some of the apostles, including Peter, who is considered the first Pope by Catholics, were married. This tradition of married priests continued for several centuries.
However, as early as the 4th century, there were discussions and attempts to introduce priestly celibacy. The Council of Elvira in 304 AD and the Council of Nicea in 325 AD both addressed the issue, with the latter rejecting a ban on priests marrying. Over time, the practice of priestly celibacy gained traction, particularly in the Western Church during the Middle Ages. This shift was influenced by various factors, including concerns over the inheritance of church properties by the sons of clergy members and the desire to elevate the prestige and authority of the Church.
By the time the Second Lateran Council was convened in 1139 AD, the momentum for mandatory celibacy had built up significantly. The Council's decision to enforce celibacy for future priests in the Western Church was a pivotal moment, solidifying the discipline that would become a defining characteristic of the priesthood in the Catholic Church. It is important to note that even after this mandate, there have been exceptions and variations within different branches of the Catholic Church, with the Eastern Catholic Churches often having more flexibility in allowing married priests.
The rule of celibacy for priests in the Catholic Church is not considered dogma but rather a discipline that could be adjusted or changed if deemed appropriate by the Church. This distinction is important as it highlights the Church's ability to adapt and make exceptions in certain circumstances. Nonetheless, the mandate from the Second Lateran Council has had a lasting impact on the priesthood, shaping the lives and commitments of Catholic priests for almost 900 years.
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The Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches ordain married men
The Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches have, for many centuries, ordained married men as priests and deacons. However, they must marry before ordination and cannot marry after becoming a priest. This is a key difference between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, with the latter only ordaining unmarried men.
The Orthodox Churches, including the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Assyrian Church of the East, permit married men to be ordained. For example, in the Russian Orthodox Church, the clergy formed a hereditary caste of priests, with marrying outside these priestly families forbidden. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, married men can be ordained to any order except for bishops. Similarly, in the Oriental Orthodox Church, married men can become priests or deacons but not bishops. The Armenian Apostolic Church, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, and the Syriac Orthodox Church permit ordained deacons to marry, while the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria does not.
The Eastern Catholic Churches, such as the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, also allow married men to become priests and deacons, except for the Ethiopian Catholic Church. In these churches, a married priest is one who married before ordination, and they are required to abstain from sexual relations for a limited period before celebrating the Eucharist.
The Latin or Western Catholic Church, on the other hand, requires priests and bishops to be unmarried men, with celibacy seen as a sign of commitment to God and service. This rule was formally legislated in the twelfth century by a Vatican Council, although it was not universally accepted until the Middle Ages. The Catholic Church makes exceptions for married Protestant ministers, including Lutherans and Anglicans, who convert to Catholicism and wish to become priests.
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Exceptions are made for married Protestant ministers who convert
The Catholic Church has a long tradition of priestly celibacy. In the early Middle Ages, the Western Church limited ordination to unmarried men, while the Eastern Churches allowed married men to be ordained. Today, the Latin Church, one of the 24 rites of the Catholic Church, does not permit married men to be ordained as priests or bishops. However, there are some exceptions to this rule.
The Catholic Church makes exceptions for married Protestant ministers, including Lutherans and Anglicans, who convert to Catholicism and wish to become priests. This exception is not available to ordinary married Protestants who convert but is specifically for those who have already functioned as ministers before joining the Latin rite of the Church. This exception is also extended to certain Eastern Catholic Churches, where married men may be ordained as priests.
The distinction between dogma and regulations is important to the Catholic Church. While the male-only priesthood is considered irreversible dogma, the ban on marriage is a regulation that could theoretically be changed by the pope. The Catholic Church considers ordination by Protestant denominations, including most Anglican ordinations, to be invalid. However, the Church does recognize the ordinations of some former Protestant ministers, particularly those from the Eastern Churches or other groups such as the SSPX.
The process of a married Protestant minister converting to Catholicism and becoming a priest involves several steps. Firstly, they must contact their local vocations office and parish priest. Secondly, their previous ordination may not be recognized by the Catholic Church, and they may need to be ordained again within the Church. Additionally, their spouse's consent is necessary, as the ordination will impact their family life and obligations.
While the Catholic Church generally upholds priestly celibacy, the exceptions made for married Protestant ministers who convert demonstrate a certain flexibility and willingness to adapt to individual circumstances. These exceptions allow for the inclusion of dedicated individuals within the Church while also recognizing the importance of their family commitments.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Church decided that priests should not marry in the 12th century. In 1139, the Second Lateran Council implemented a rule requiring all priests to remain celibate. However, the practice of priestly celibacy began to spread in the Western Church in the early Middle Ages.
There are several reasons why the Catholic Church decided priests should not marry. One reason is that the Church wanted to control a priest's money and employment. Another reason is that the Church was worried that clerics' children would inherit church property and create dynasties.
Yes, there are some exceptions to the rule. For example, married male Lutheran, Anglican, and other Protestant clergy who convert to the Catholic Church are allowed to remain married and become priests.
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