Hi, P. J. —
Thanks for the question.
The way you phrased your question sounds a little
partisan.
Let me answer your question and then elaborate.
The very first Pope was Pope Urban II who presided
at a minor council held at Clermont in Auvergne
in November of 1095 A.D.
Pope Innocent II, the 164th successor
of St. Peter, who oversaw the Second Lateran Council,
a major council in 1139 A.D., reaffirmed this.
I have summarized the issues involved from a New Advent
web page. Due to the cultural differences between
the twelfth (12th) century and today, I've paraphrased
the issues involved.
The council issued 28 canons that:
- condemned certain heretics
- excommunicated certain laity for bad behavior
- condemned bad practices among the laity and
religious
- instituted appropriate disciplines, and
- established certain practices (like Kings working
with Bishops on issues dealing with justice.)
Canons 6, 7, and 11 dealt with the condemning and
repression of marriage and concubinage among priests,
deacons, subdeacons, monks, and nuns.
Ecclesiastical morals and discipline had grown
lax during the recent schism.
The twenty-eight canons pertinent to these matters reproduced,
in great part, the decrees of the Council of Reims,
in 1131 A.D., and the Council of Clermont, in 1130 A.D. The
enactment of these canons are frequently cited under the name of
the Lateran Council and acquired an increase in
notoriety at that council.
The issue our previous popes had to deal with is
one of trust, moral character, integrity, and calling among those called to the clerical
state.
This is an issue that we have had to, sadly, re-address
over the past few years.
It's important to remember P. J. that celibacy
in the Roman Rite is a discipline, not a doctrine.
- Can it change? <Yes.>
- Is it likely to change? <No, for good reasons.>
This
piece from Catholic Answers may address a lot
of other questions you have that are related to the
one you asked.
Even today, exceptions are made. For example, there
are married Latin-Rite priests who are converts from
Anglicanism, Lutheranism, and Episcopalianism.
These other articles from the Catholic Answers website may help as well.
Years ago, another questioner asked a similar question.
How do I refute this argument on married priests versus clerical celibacy?
Hope this helps,
Mike
|