Clerical marriage - THE MOST DIVISIVE ASPECT
By Khayam
@Khayam (346)
Romania
November 19, 2008 8:01pm CST
The Roman Catholic Church norms do not allow clerical marriage of any sort. It is considered that clergy is married to the Church, as Christ was.
The Eastern Orthodox Churches allow clerical marriage for priests, but forbids it for nuns and brothers. In fact, in order to be ordained as a priest, the man should first marry.
Protestant Christian Church allow clerical marriage.
What are your thoughts on this issue? How are the things in your religion?
2 responses
@oyenkai (4394)
• Philippines
20 Nov 08
That isn't the most divisive aspect. Instead, it is being under the Pope. Only the Roman Catholic Church - the only Church founded by a God, recognizes the leadership of the Pope, which is the Bishop of Vatican, whose office roots back to Saint Peter, the Rock on which Jesus Christ built his Church (his community).
@Khayam (346)
• Romania
20 Nov 08
Well, although Saint Peter can be considered - but only according to our human systems of value - the most important of Jesus Christ's Apostles - Christian religion promotes the equality between humans, toghether with an unitarian perception of their importance in front of God - I find no substance in order to understand what you meant through the phrase: "the only Church founded by a God".
First, because in Christian religion "there is no other God than God himself".
Secondly, because Roman Catholic Church is a resulf ot a political separation, not of God's desire. In this context, I want to remind you that the Christian Church was founded not by God, but by His Apostles, equally important: Peter, Paul, Andrew, etc and used to be known under the name The Orthodox, Catholic and Apostolic Christian Church.
The primacy of Rome vs the equality between all God's Churches led to the Separation between Catholics and Orthodox. Due to their own belief in ther spiritual heritage, the Bishops of Vatican developed God's Church as a political structure, and unleashed Inquisition.
1 person likes this
@oyenkai (4394)
• Philippines
20 Nov 08
The Catholic Church does believe in only one God, however, the Protestant Church was not founded by God by Martin Luther King; The Islamic Religion was founded by a Prophet, Mohammad. That is what I mean by "the only Church founded by God, who is Jesus Christ". "Upon this Rock I will build my Church" - Christ built the Church and assigned leadership to his Apostles "to continue my [his] mission" (so the Apostles are not the founders of the Roman Catholic Church).
The Inquisition...is something I have to read more up on.
@Khayam (346)
• Romania
24 Nov 08
Christian Church, dear oyenkai, doesn't mean only the Catholic Church. In fact the Roman Catholic religion - as a denomination of Christianty - appeared in the 11th century after the Great Schism, when the Roman Chatolic and the Eastern Orthodox Churches separated.
However, four Christian Churches - Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian Church trace their heritage to Jesus Christ, through Apostolic Succession. Protestant, Anglican, Anabaptist and Restorationist Christian denomination aren't.
1 person likes this
@jlamela (4897)
• Philippines
21 Nov 08
I will only speak on the catholic rules because my religion is catholic. Clergy in the catholic church are not allowed to marry, because of the main reason that Christ is married only to the church and so they are. Canon Lawyers of the catholic church argued that the vow for celibacy is being strictly imposed to all catholic aspiring priests in order to give their full attention to their vocation only. Their mission is with the church and having a family can distract this ultimate mission in their lives.
This vow was strengthened by the Council of Trent in the early 14th century, prohibiting a catholic clergy to get married. The sacrament of ordination to priesthood means a total self-sacrifice, if a man could not abide that sacrifice, he is free to discontinue his desire to enter priesthood.
@Khayam (346)
• Romania
24 Nov 08
But between Council of Nicaea and the Council of Trent, clergy's celibacy was inexistant. As far as i know, the Bible contains no refference regarding the fact that priesthood is a catalyst for celibacy or that being a party of the clergy means that you have to stop being a human being and a son of God.
