Celibacy of Priests: word of God? No, something far more mundane.

[pink-o]

I have been explaining forever to people that Catholic priests aren't forced to abstain from sex because God wants them pure (and what all-knowing supernatural being would create libido and then tell a whole bunch of men they can't use it???)but because in Medieval times the church got fed up of losing their fabulous land to reprobate heirs of clergy and decided to declare all progeny illegitimate.

Oh, $$$$$$! Where would the Catholic church be without greed?

Anyway, when I discuss this with people, they can't believe the almighty Pope and his minions would LIE to them! Whatever--and if they're willing to lie once, how many other times do they think they've been spoon-fed untruths??

Link here:

http://www.natcath.org/NCR_Online/archives/041202/041202s.htm

[Warpy]

1. Oh, the popes were slick about the whole thing

and based it on the dead silence about Jesus's life between the ages of 12 and 30, precisely the ages they'd have apprenticed him to a trade and married him off.

Once they did that, there was no way out of it for the married clergy and their spouses and the church got everything.

[yellerpup]

2. The church in that day was a dumping ground for excess royal offspring

The church helped out the kings and royalty by keeping them from attacking the designated heirs to the kingdom and dividing it up into smaller and smaller plots. The original meaning of the word niece was "the illegitimate female child of a priest." Of course you are right that celibacy was all a diversion. Priests had sex and progeny, but the progeny could not inherit.

[pink-o]

3. A perfect example of rewriting history.

You just gotta wonder what ongoing consequence will come out of our time on this planet, how many lies to future generations regarding the social structure. Noam Chomsky is right: the Big Stick and the Big Lie are the ways the power base beat us into submission and mind control.

[yellerpup]

4. Sticks are very effective in enforcing lies.

I wish I could stay and talk about this but I am beat tonight and have six weeks of jury duty coming up, beginning tomorrow morning. Peace. :hi:

[pink-o]

6. Oh, man, good luck with the trial! 6 weeks is brutal n/t

[jmm]

5. I first learned about this from a priest when I was in Catholic school.

He would walk into our class at random times smoking a cigar with his two Scottish Terriers following him and talk about random stuff. He also told us about how eating fish in Friday is a scam. Except for the cigars I liked him :D. He was one of the few people there that was honest about Church doctrine, history, and his opinions.

[pink-o]

7. I've known some really awesome priests

too bad about the fairy tales they impart to their willing congregation.

Also, Reform Rabbis tend to be very cool, warm, wise and just the kind of people you'd go to if you were conflicted or sad. I'm culturally and ethnically Jewish; but I hate all that Old Testament and Israel Uber Alles stuff!