Celibacy

• In biblical times, most Jewish people married but celibacy was not unknown. However, as far as we know Jesus did not marry and from his lifetime the Christian attitude to celibacy has changed
• According to Matthew 19:12, celibacy was seen as a choice made to focus on the Kingdom of God. From the early days of the Church, there has been an acceptance of celibacy as a vocation for some Christians
• In 1 Corinthians, Paul advocated celibacy unless sexual urges proved too strong, in which case the Christian concerned should marry. This concession was because Paul believed that the end of the world was immanent and marriage would be a distraction from preparing for Judgement Day
• As time went on, it was clear that Paul has been wrong about the imminence of the Second Coming. Later New Testament writings therefore take marriage as a given
• From the fourth century, the development of monasticism required celibacy
• It was not until the twelfth century that there was a definitive rule prohibiting marriage for clergy
• In the Catholic Church, priestly celibacy is seen as a positive offering of oneself to the service of God. However, because of the fall in numbers of those seeking ordination, there has been pressure to permit marriage for priests
• The Orthodox Church accepts married men as priests, but it is not allowed after ordination nation and bishops must be celibate
• In the Anglican and Protestant Churches, clergy are often married. In fact, some Evangelical Protestant Churches oppose celibacy for the clergy on the grounds that it goes against the teaching of 1 Timothy 3