Back Klerika fraŭleco de la Katolika Eklezio Esperanto Célibat sacerdotal dans l'Église catholique French Selibat klerikal (Gereja Katolik) ID キリスト教における独身制 Japanese Celibatas katalikybėje Lithuanian Fitovoan' ny mpitondra fivavahana ao amin' ny Eglizy Katôlika Malagasy Svećenički celibat u Katoličkoj crkvi Serbo-Croatian
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Clerical celibacy is the discipline within the Catholic Church by which only unmarried men are ordained to the episcopate, to the priesthood in the Latin Church (one of the 24 rites of the catholic church with some particular exception and in some autonomous particular Churches), and similarly to the diaconate. In other autonomous particular churches, the discipline applies only to the episcopate. According to Jason Berry of The New York Times, "The requirement of celibacy is not dogma; it is an ecclesiastical law that was adopted in the Middle Ages because Rome was worried that clerics' children would inherit church property and create dynasties."[1] For several hundred years after the imposition of celibacy on secular (non-monastic/religious) clergy the sale of church offices continued (known as the sin of Simony). The first male issue of non-married concubines of celibate clergy became set to continue the dynasty (a form of nepotism). To curtail this clerical abuse, the Latin Church imposed a ban on the ordination of bastards. This policy ended almost 800 years later in the 20th century.
The Catholic church in particular which principally follows this discipline is the Latin Church; this discipline does not apply to the Eastern Catholic Churches, which permit married men to be ordained to priesthood with the exception of the Ethiopian Catholic Church. All particular Churches of the Catholic Church require bishops to be celibate as was the practice of the ancient church as bishops were chosen from monastics who always practiced celibacy.
In this context, the word celibacy retains its original meaning of 'unmarried'. Though even the married may observe abstinence from sexual intercourse, the obligation to be celibate is seen as a consequence of the obligation to observe perfect and perpetual continence for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Advocates see clerical celibacy as "a special gift of God by which sacred ministers can more easily remain close to Christ with an undivided heart, and can dedicate themselves more freely to the service of God and their neighbour."[2]
In February 2019, the Vatican acknowledged that the policy has not always been adhered to and that rules had been secretly established by the Vatican to handle clergy who violated their vows of celibacy.[3][4][5] Some clergy have been allowed to retain their clerical status after violating their vows of celibacy, and even after secretly marrying women.[6][7][8] Prefect for the Congregation for Clergy Cardinal Beniamino Stella also acknowledged that child support and transfer have been two common ways for such clergy to maintain their clerical status.[9]
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guardianfebruary19was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "20 offenders revealed in grand jury report in Greensburg Diocese". 14 August 2018.
- ^ "Are Catholic priests leading secret double lives?".
- ^ "Australian priest admits being secretly married for a year". 3 May 2012.
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