In modern dialogue between Catholics, Protestants, and even Orthodox, it’s widely assumed that the Latin West’s discipline of clerical celibacy is a complete medieval novelty.
Hi Ben, I'm wondering if it's possible for us to connect. I'm a Catholic convert who is looking into Orthodoxy and would love to dialogue, if you're willing, about some of my concerns/issues regarding both Catholicism and Orthodoxy.
If you're willing, email me at isaachess{at}gmail{dot}com.
Very interesting article. This type of argument, especially when I first heard the early evidence for clerical continence, subverts a lot of my former preconceived notions . I'm glad you are getting this across and I hope there is fruitful engagement with opposing views. However, I did want to ask where you are getting the idea that Isaiah 56 speaks of a priesthood. Could one not argue that the Lord accepting the offerings at the altar can refer to a lay person (who is a eunuch or foreigner) presenting their offerings on the altar and being accepted? From my reading, and I'd be happy to receive correction, the immediate context doesn't tell you either way. Would your reading of Isaiah 56 be you making a link to Isaiah 66 and the priests spoken there?
This article ,which confirms the origins of clerical celibacy,implies that Sexual union is not a good ,even among married individuals, and if they remained celibate that would be a higher calling.I was always taught that one of the main goals of marriage was procreation and this article implies otherwise.
X being better than Y doesn’t mean that Y is intrinsically bad, only that it’s less good than X. It is official Catholic dogma that the virginal state is superior to the married state, this was defined at the Council of Trent, though it didn’t need to be since it’s the universal teaching of the fathers. No where did I imply that procreation isn’t the end of marriage. In fact, my argument actually supports that thesis: marriages ceases in the age to come because its purpose, procreation, will no longer be needed.
Hi Ben, I'm wondering if it's possible for us to connect. I'm a Catholic convert who is looking into Orthodoxy and would love to dialogue, if you're willing, about some of my concerns/issues regarding both Catholicism and Orthodoxy.
If you're willing, email me at isaachess{at}gmail{dot}com.
Very interesting article. This type of argument, especially when I first heard the early evidence for clerical continence, subverts a lot of my former preconceived notions . I'm glad you are getting this across and I hope there is fruitful engagement with opposing views. However, I did want to ask where you are getting the idea that Isaiah 56 speaks of a priesthood. Could one not argue that the Lord accepting the offerings at the altar can refer to a lay person (who is a eunuch or foreigner) presenting their offerings on the altar and being accepted? From my reading, and I'd be happy to receive correction, the immediate context doesn't tell you either way. Would your reading of Isaiah 56 be you making a link to Isaiah 66 and the priests spoken there?
This article ,which confirms the origins of clerical celibacy,implies that Sexual union is not a good ,even among married individuals, and if they remained celibate that would be a higher calling.I was always taught that one of the main goals of marriage was procreation and this article implies otherwise.
X being better than Y doesn’t mean that Y is intrinsically bad, only that it’s less good than X. It is official Catholic dogma that the virginal state is superior to the married state, this was defined at the Council of Trent, though it didn’t need to be since it’s the universal teaching of the fathers. No where did I imply that procreation isn’t the end of marriage. In fact, my argument actually supports that thesis: marriages ceases in the age to come because its purpose, procreation, will no longer be needed.