Page 26 - Read and Recognize

Celibacy

Celibacy

Here, too, one does not live up to the imitation of CHRIST and the
Apostles!
1 Tim. 4,1ff Now the Spirit manifestly says that in the last times some shall
depart from the faith, giving heed to spirits of error and doctrines of devils,
speaking lies in hypocrisy and having their conscience seared, forbidding to
marry …

CHRIST also called married men among the Apostles. He established
Peter, who was married, as first Pope! Why should that be wrong which
JESUS CHRIST Himself practised and the Apostles ordered?

The celibacy of the priest is indeed a holy and privileged state, as such a
priest clings only to GOD and is thus completely free at GOD’s
disposal. It is, however, questionable whether or not a married priest
often bears greater or other sacrifices and renounciations; also his
spouse and children make sacrifices and renounciations, which in turn
is very valuable before GOD.

Paul teaches quite clearly:
1 Tim. 3,1f A faithful saying: If a man desire the office of a bishop, he de-
sires a good work. It behoves therefore a bishop to be blameless, the hus-
band of one wife (if he is married) …

Now, why does the Church ban what an Apostle preached? Especially
married priests would have been able to work beneficially in the pasto-
ral care of marriages and families.

Here the Church frequently acted awkwardly! After all, marriage is
a holy Sacrament! Can man or the Church ban a holy Sacrament?
What remains is only the free choice before the ordination to the priest-
hood. So the Church authorities far too often called unclean what is
GOD’s will and sanctified through the Sacrament! It would fill volumes
what, from that point of view, the Church authorities have done, sinned
and missed! That is what happens when ignorant and inexperienced
people talk about this and make laws! Unfortunately the other extreme
now exists. Not without reason did CHRIST put a married Apostle at the
top.

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