From a Christian point of view, priests are considered holy. Yet, the priests are defying one of the most basic commandments of God: "Go forth and multiply". Why is this so?

-- D (derrick_quantum_physicist@hotmail.com), March 24, 2003

Answers

if you agree that the procreation that you demand only rightly belongs within marriage, then look at 1 Cor 7, 32 et seq for a good start to answering this question. priests are, so it is said, married to the Church.

-- Ian (ib@vertigfo.com), March 24, 2003.

From a Christian point of view, no-one is holier than Jesus, but He was unmarried. The fact that a given state in life is holy doesn't mean that every individual is called to that state in life. There are different means to holiness which different individuals are called to, and marrying when God is calling you to the unmarried life would not be holy at all. Paul was the greatest of the apostles in many ways, and he was unmarried; and he explained why he was ...

"Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am [unmarried]. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that. But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I am. (1 Corinthians 7:7-8)

"But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord. (1 Corinthians 7:32-35)

-- Paul (PaulCyp@cox.net), March 24, 2003.

You might say, Derrick, that when Jesus called his apostles to be "fishers of men," and to spread the faith "to the ends of the earth" that they were, indeed going forth, and multiplying! They were multiplying the number of believers added to His Church.

Incidentally, we also consider marriage to be a holy vocation. Have you ever heard the term, "Holy Matrimony"?

A priest marries the Church. The Church is his bride, and we, the faithful, are his children. Hence, we call him "Father."

-- Anna <>< (flower@youknow.com), March 24, 2003.

Beatiful, Anna! Thanks. JFG

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), March 24, 2003.

if there is no follow up on this question about priests being celibate, can i ask a related question. my friend has done IVF. eggs removed from wife, fertilise by him, reinserted, little baby Catholic is born. maybe - i didn't ask - some eggs were lost.

but the Church, he has discovered, say that this is a Mortal Sin.

is this correct?

-- Ian (ib@vertigfo.com), March 25, 2003.

Ian, for this topic, a new thread really should be started. With your indulgence I have begun a new thread entitled In Vitro Fertilization using your question. You can find it here:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=00AgeS

-- Ed Lauzon (grader@accglobal.net), March 25, 2003.