Catholic Online Forum

Were all priests celibate before the division from Rome or did that come later? If all orthodox priests were celibate, when and how did the Orthodox priests begin to marry, and if not, when and why did the RC priests begin to be celibate? Which was the norm for the early church?
Thanks
Mea

I am not well educated on this topic, but the cursory explanation I've heard is that the Latin Church expanded on the common tradition of monastics and bishops being celibate, and expanded it to parish priests.

In the EOC, we differentiate between monastic and non-monastic clergy. Non-monastic clergy, priests and deacons can marry as long as they do so before their ordination. If either is ordained before they are married, or become widowers, generally they are assigned to monastic or auxiliary roles. Priests and deacons cannot remarry. Bishops cannot be married, but can be widowers, and are usually chosen from monasteries anyway. We consider it essential for parish priests to be married, non married priests would be abnormal in an EOC, though I'm sure it occurs.

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In Christ

Ryan

"Grant, O Lord, that I may now love Thee as once I loved sin itself, and that I may labor for Thee without laziness as once I labored for Satan the deceiver."

Ryan,

You may not have noticed the date, but that question was asked 4 years ago.

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Bob C

Bob,

Better late than never?

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James Daly

"It is the Lord." (Jn 21:7)

Ah, lay off me, I'm new I was just tired and replied to anything I found interesting, regardless of date. Thanks though!

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In Christ

Ryan

"Grant, O Lord, that I may now love Thee as once I loved sin itself, and that I may labor for Thee without laziness as once I labored for Satan the deceiver."

I find it interesting that married priests are the norm. Celibacy is the norm in the Eastern Catholic Churches. The rules are the same for married priests and bishops are only chosen from the celibate. I do not know about widowed priests becoming bishops.

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Patrick Mitchell

Hospody Isuse Khryste, synu zhyvogo Boga, pomylui mene grishnyka
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have Mercy on me, a sinner