A question for Catholics about the Pope...?

Question

Greetings to you,

I wanted to ask is the Pope's authority in Catholicism equal to the authority of the New Testament Apostles, like Paul and Peter? I wanted to ask this because if the Bible says in 1 Cor. 7:2 that each person should be allowed to marry (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Cor.%207:2;&version=45; ,) was it some Pope from the past who said that preists and nuns cannot marry? If it was, how did his authority override the Scripture?

Thanks in advance for answering.

Answer 1

The Pope's authority is equal to that of Simon Peter's.

The authority of Catholic bishops is equal to that of the other original Apostles (and Paul).

Priests, religious brothers and religious sisters (nuns) as part of their vocation choose not to marry following:

+ The practice recommended in the Bible

+ The example of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, and the Apostle Paul.

+++ Scripture +++

In Matthew 19:12, Jesus says, "Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it."

In Matthew 19:29, Jesus says, "And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life."

Matthew 22:30 - Jesus explains, "At the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the angels in heaven."

In 1 Corinthians 7:1, Paul writes, "It is a good thing for a man not to touch a woman."

Then in 1 Corinthians 7:7, Paul says, "Indeed, I wish everyone to be as I am."

In 1 Corinthians 7:27, Paul writes, "Are you free of a wife? Then do not look for a wife."

In 1 Corinthians 7:32-33, Paul teaches, "I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife." And in verse 38, "So then, the one who marries his virgin does well; the one who does not marry her will do better."

Paul recommends celibacy for full time ministers in the Church so that they are able to focus entirely upon God and building up His kingdom. He “who refrains from marriage will do better.”

See also 1 Timothy 5:9-12, 2 Timothy 2:3-4, Revevation 14:4, Isaiah 56:3-7, and Jeremiah 16:1-4.

+++ Scriptural Examples +++

Biblical role models of a celibate clergy came from John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Apostle Paul.

John the Baptist and Jesus are both believed to have been celibate for their entire lives. Some scholars believe that the example of the Essenes influenced either or both Jesus and John the Baptist in their celibacy.

WWJD? What would Jesus do? Jesus did not marry.

The Apostle Paul is explicit about his celibacy (see 1 Cor. 7). There is also evidence in the gospel of Matthew for the practice of celibacy among at least some early Christians, in the famous passage about becoming “eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:12).

The concept took many twists and turns over the years and will probably take a few more before Christ returns in glory.

A priest is "married" to the Church. Some people think that a priest who takes his duties seriously cannot take proper care of a wife and family.

With love in Christ.  

Answer 2

First of all, you are right the pope does have the authority of the Apostles, namely Peter.

Secondly, the pope does not forbid anyone to marry, because no one is forced to be a nun or priest. It is a choice, and with that choice comes the discipline of celibacy.

Religious life is a vocation, just as married life is When a person chooses to marry they are required to be monogamous...this is the discipline of married life. When a person chooses to be a Roman Catholic nun or priest, they are required to be celibate. But each and everyone of them have the option to choose the vocation of marriage.

So I reiterate, the Catholic Church does not forbid anyone to marry. But Jesus talks about celibacy for the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 19:12 Jesus say: "Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it."

This means it is okay to renounce marriage for the kingdom of heaven, and this is what priests and nuns do, of their own free will.

Answer 3

nobody is forced to be a priest or a nun, so in a sense everyone is allowed to marry. The reason priests and nuns can't marry is so that they won't be destracted by a wife/husband and kids, when they should be focusing on spreading the word of Christ and on their Parish's affairs.  

Answer 4

If you would like more answers, consider asking around this site as well...

http://christianforums.com/forumdisplay....

Answer 5

Each person IS allowed to marry.  Nobody forces anyone to become a Priest.

If your vocation is to Marriage, then you get married.  If it is to the priesthood you don't get married.

See how simple it really is?

Some groups just have a hard time with anything Catholic, yet when you look into it, the Catholic Church just makes to much sense!  I hope you see that is not the Pope over-riding Scripture, but a group that has to work REALLY hard to make the Catholic Faith look bad.

Peace and God Bless!