Priesthood and celibacy...

Priesthood and celibacy...

[ [18:28, 27/09/2025] Pankiras Arulappan: ]

(Clerical celibacy in Christianity... developed over centuries. It was encouraged from the 4th century, but made mandatory in the Western (Latin) Church

at the Second Lateran Council in 1139 only.

However, in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches married men can be ordained priests (but not bishops). Once ordained,  they cannot marry. And

Bishops are chosen from celibate monks.

Most of the religions including Jewism don't mandate celibacy for priesthood.

As per the stand of Jesus and traditions of most of the religions,  denying priesthood for someone who wants to marry is not natural and justifiable either.

Moreover, this unnatural and rather impossible requirement perpetrates insincerity and dishonesty among priests which pervades in every sphere of their lives.

This we need to look in the context of Jesus fulfilling concept of law and prophets. He said, "You have heard that it was said, `You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Mt 5: 27-28)

Confronting the  Pharisees who

came up to Jesus to test him, asking, "Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?"  He answered, "Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, `For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?

So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder." (Mt 19: 3-6).

Though this stand of Jesus was in the context of the question on divorce, further questioning by the disciples, "If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry" made him to say, "Not all men can receive this saying, but only those to whom …

[19:30, 27/09/2025] Pankiras Arulappan: Priesthood and celibacy...

Confronting the  Pharisees who

came up to Jesus to test him, asking, "Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?" He replied, "Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, `For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?

So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder." (Mt 19: 3-6).

Though this stand of Jesus was in the context of the question on divorce, further query by the disciples, "If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry" made him to say, "Not all men can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to receive this, let him receive it" (Mt 19: 10-12).

This stand of Jesus doesn't reflect in the mandatory requirement of celibacy to priesthood!

Most of the religions including Jewish don't mandate it for priesthood as it goes 

against the primordial order of the Creator, reiterated by Jesus.

Clerical celibacy took centuries to reach the present situation. Though encouraged from the 4th century, only at the Second Lateran Council in 1139 it was made mandatory in the Western (Latin) Church.

However, in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches married men can be ordained priests but not bishops. Once ordained,  they cannot marry. And

Bishops are chosen from celibate monks.

As per the stand of Jesus and traditions of most of the religions,  denying priesthood for someone who wants to marry is not natural and justifiable either.

Moreover, this unnatural and rather impossible requirement perpetrates insincerity and dishonesty, pervading every sphere of life.

This we need to look in the context of Jesus' saying, "You have heard that it was said, `You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Mt 5: 27-28)

It's high time that all of us especially priests need to be authentic and honest in matters like such basic instinct which is not a weakness as considered generally. Not to acknowledge it and go on in a denial mode would only worsen the situation...

Honesty is authenticity. This gives authority to our words as Jesus had unlike their teachers. 'And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. (Mt 7: 28-29).

Authenticity makes one realize human dignity and thereby human rights. One who realizes it won't go after unworthy things would always be accountable, responsible and transparent which is a sure sign of sanctity.

Thanks