Celibacy and marriage

[Captdon]

According to the Catholic Church the only reason for sex is reproduction. At least that was what I was told as a kid.

This may explain it better:

https://www.catholic.org/prwire/headline.php?ID=9264

[Captdon]

But this assumes--erroneously, I believe--that the principal reason for wanting to get married is to have sanctioned sex.

But what if the principal reason for wishing to get married, instead, is to have the constant companionship of an opposite-sex person?

Note: Do you believe that Protestant pastors who are married--which is to say, most of them--are "morally inferior" to Catholic priests? (I am really hoping that you will not just dodge this question.)

I didn't say I assume anything. I simply showed where it appears oi the bible.

Why would I say that married pastors are morally inferior? Celibacy is Church law, not dogma.

Anything else?

[Captdon]

I certainly do not believe that marriage is merely a concession--and a begrudging one, at that--to those who are aflame with passion, and probably cannot control themselves. (If it were, it would be difficult--really difficult--to explain why marriage was sanctioned during the Mosaic Era--when worshipers of Yahweh were expected to be no less pure than they are in the Christian Era.)


Actually, I was not writing specifically to you.

In any case, it should probably be noted that first-century Christians (including Paul) thought that the Eschaton was very near; and, under those extreme circumstances, a wife would be unnecessarily burdensome.

And, although we really do not know just when Christ might return--it could be next week, next year, or many thousands of years from now--there is no good reason, currently, to have this heightened eschatological sense.

Then why are both quotes from me?

[pjohns]

You used the words, "Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me," in post Number Three in this thread.

I had spoken, previously, in this thread, only in the OP.

Where, in the OP, did you think I was addressing you, specifically?

Note: You responded to a single sentence (which was not even central to the subject), while leaving the other three paragraphs entirely untouched...

[roadmaster]

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
14These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
15But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.