Random thought

[unixronin]

So ... what is it with Christian sects and the public pretense of celibacy, anyway?  I mean, wasn't there some divine command, like, way back near the beginning of the Old Testament, to go forth, be fruitful and multiply?  Pretty hard to keep adding new worshippers for the greater glory of God when it's a sin for them to boink each other, or even to think about it.

I've always considered it one of the weirder foibles of the Catholic church that it requires its clergy to be celibate, but won't allow its lay followers to use birth control.  WTF?  Hello?  Marriage is a sacrament in which the clergy are forbidden to participate?

Comments

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

I had acquired the idea (but can't back it up with citations) that it was a property issue, as well as a devotion issue -- a priest with a family would leave any money or possessions to them, rather than to the Church.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Given the teaching that material wealth is at best unimportant (if not actively bad), what's the Church doing trying to accumulate the collected money and possessions of its clergy in the first place? (Assuming, of course, that the Church actually tried to follow the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, many of which appear to be given lip service at best.)

I know, one can argue that the accumulated wealth was to be used for good works and helping the needy. Historically, though, it's tended not to work out that way beyond the lowest levels of the church. The village priest may live in a crude hut, and the rectory may be humble, but just try to find a poor bishop — let alone a cardinal. In the church just as in politics, while power does not of itself corrupt, it has always proven immensely attractive to the easily corrupted; and they, in turn, have always proven willing to do far more — and far worse — to gain and keep it.

(This is not to say that all who attain high office are corrupt. Unfortunately, the good works performed by the just and honest have historically paled in the shadow of the intrigues and evils perpetrated by the seekers after power. The visibility of the bad works tends to mask awareness of the good.)