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

[tabbifli.livejournal.com]

Interesting note: In Africa, the Catholic priests are not only allowed to marry, but they are required to marry. The reason behind this is because, in Africa, a boy is not considered a grown man until he meets several critera, including having a wife - and no grown man will listen to an untried boy.

Another interesting thing is that while a priest may request release from his vows to marry, he is still considered, by the church, to be tied to the church. It's not so much that he gets a release from his vows as it is that he gets a special exemption to marry. If his wife were to die, it is expected that he would return to the church and take up his duties again.