4 ms·
If I remember correctly, the ban against marriage came after the monasteries were well established. The monasteries were some of the largest estates in medieval
by pge 6y ago
If I remember correctly, the ban against marriage came after the monasteries were well established. The monasteries were some of the largest estates in medieval Europe, and there was a fear that they would become dynasties that challenged the lords (or became poweful in their own right which could challenge the church hierarchy). The marriage prohibition kept the church in control of the monasteries and kept the relationship between the church and the lords happy.
- jkingsbery 6y agoI think you are mistaken in some details. Monasteries from pretty early on required celibacy. According to https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerical_celibacy_in_the_Catholic_Church https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerical_celibacy_in_the_Cat..., priests did get married until the 12th century (even then, some say there was an unenforced law rule on the books saying that wasn't supposed to happen) . While there were some theological and worldly reasons for the change, competition with lords wasn't one, and doesn't make a lot of sense. Religious communities were largely populated by the children of the nobles, and nobles gave to monasteries. (And again, wouldn't apply, since only non-monastic priests were married.)
- Ichthypresbyter 6y agoIn the Orthodox Church, priests are allowed (and in fact encouraged) to be married, but cannot marry after they are ordained. On the other hand, bishops must be monks as well as priests, and therefore cannot be married.
- mnw21cam 6y agoI have never been able to square the catholic church ban on priest marrying with 1 Timothy 3: 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)
- 8fGTBjZxBcHq 6y agoThe rule against unmarried clergy came pretty late in the game I believe. Anyway I think it was more of a practical organizational determination, not a theological thing.