14
votes
Accepted
In the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, if a man becomes a widower, can he become a priest?
In the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, if a man becomes a widower, can he become a priest?
The short answer is: Absolutely
I know a priest in the Diocese of Tulsa, Oklahoma who became a permanent ...
- 65.3k
7
votes
Accepted
Last married pope?
Popes who were legally married either as Pope or before they became clergy and were in fact widowed at the time of their election as Supreme Pontiff are as follows:
St. Peter (30/33-64/67) ...
- 65.3k
6
votes
Last married pope?
You mention both marriage and celibacy in your question. Since "celibate" means abstaining from marriage and sexual relations:
The last documented pope who was married was Pope Honorius IV (1285–1287)...
- 1,389
5
votes
Could a cardinal or pope have children if they are a widower?
Yes, a pope or cardinal could have children if his wife died before he was ordained a deacon and then priest. This would fulfill the requirements for ordination to the priesthood. It could also ...
- 65.3k
4
votes
What is the scriptural basis for clerical celibacy?
As an evangelical convert to Catholicism, I understand your question is from the perspective of scriptural justification. The simple answer is that you cannot justify celibate priesthood from ...
- 61
4
votes
Is celibacy essential to the Catholic priesthood?
Is celibacy essential to the Catholic priesthood?
The short answer is no.
Celibacy is not essential to the priesthood. In fact the Prince of the Apostles, St. Peter was married and traditionally had ...
- 65.3k
3
votes
Married man becoming Latin Rite Catholic priest if giving up sex?
This is not what the 1983 Code of Canon Law says.
The following are simply impeded from receiving orders:
a man who has a wife, unless he is lawfully destined for the permanent diaconate;...
- 14k
3
votes
Accepted
Is celibacy essential to the Catholic priesthood?
Essence of priestly celibacy
Celibacy = unmarried, although in this context it can also mean perpetual continence, as priests can be married (and unmarried priests have never been permitted to marry)....
- 37.8k
3
votes
Are there examples of "successful" celibate homosexuals, according to the Catholic Church?
I'm sure there are tons of examples, but if you want one notable one, there's Andy Warhol, who the Catholic Herald did a write-up about a few years ago:
Religion kept Warhol from going over the brink....
- 33.7k
3
votes
Accepted
How do Catholic Proponents of Priestly Celibacy Interpret Peter having a wife?
How do Catholic proponents of priestly celibacy interpret Peter having a wife?
This poses no problems for the Church.
The Church has always maintained that St. Peter was married.
Celibacy is not ...
- 65.3k
1
vote
Would God allow all of humanity to be celibate?
Would God allow all of humanity to be celibate?
The short answer is no.
This goes directly against what God said to Adam:
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and ...
- 65.3k
1
vote
Accepted
Do the Eastern Orthodox think the state of virginity is more meritorious than marriage?
I'm not EO but I read lots of their stuff (I am lapsed Coptic Orthodox).
A few points however to be made.
1) The terminology you use "meritorious" is Roman Catholic. The EO has a different outlook ...
- 897
1
vote
Married man becoming Latin Rite Catholic priest if giving up sex?
Short answer: absolutely no.
Long answer: no, at least non today and not in Latin Church.
A man which is widowed could become a priest, but it's not married anymore.
The Holy See can dispense an ...
- 679
1
vote
Accepted
Married man becoming Latin Rite Catholic priest if giving up sex?
The author may be invoking the Code of Canons of the African Church, which is a Patristic document from the 5th Century — actually, a 5th Century compilation of the Canons of nearly twenty synods held ...
- 2,795
1
vote
When did the prohibition of marriage for priests in the Catholic church originate?
How clerical celibacy originated in the Catholic (Latin) Church
The "pious histories" of priestly celibacy tell the story of how Jesus regarded celibacy as part of his prophetic mission. As ...
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible