In view of these factors and others that might be mentioned, it is apparent why the Roman Catholic Church clings so tenaciously to clerical celibacy, and did so even when its observance was practically nil, as during the Middle Ages, and this in spite of its bad fruits and the many dissenting voices.

EXALTING MAN’S LAW ABOVE GOD’S

It is admitted that compulsory clerical celibacy is based on a church law, not a divine law. And the Roman Catholic Church does make an exception in the case of her priesthood of the Eastern Rites, such as the Uniats. Among these, candidates for the priesthood marry just before taking orders or being ordained.

True, God’s Word recommends singleness, but voluntarily, individually, to any Christian able to practice it, and that regardless of whether he may occupy some office in the congregation or not. But wherever it is mentioned it is qualified. Thus Jesus added: “Let him that can make room for it make room for it.” And the apostle Paul: “Yet, because of prevalence of fornication, let each man have his own wife.” “But if they do not have self-control, let them marry.” “He does not sin. Let them marry.”—Matt. 19:11, 12; 1 Cor. 7:2, 9, 36.

Support for clerical celibacy is sought in the fact that on certain occasions the Jews were given commands such as: “Get ready during the three days. Do not you men come near a woman.” True, but that no more recommends clerical celibacy than the commands to fast at times implied that the ideal state is for Christians to starve to death!—Ex. 19:15.

And not only do the Scriptures make singleness optional, but with few, if any, exceptions the reasons given are practical advantages, not superior piety. This is apparent from the remarks of both Jesus and Paul. The single person who can exercise self-control can serve God more freely, is spared tribulation in the flesh, and so forth.

But avoiding fornication is not optional. “What! Do you not know that . . . fornicators” will not “inherit God’s kingdom”? “Let marriage be honorable among all, . . . for God will judge fornicators.” “Let fornication and uncleanness of every kind or greediness not even be mentioned among you, just as it befits holy people.”—1 Cor. 6:9, 10; Heb. 13:4; Eph. 5:3.

The practice of the Roman Catholic Church in applying her canon law runs counter to God’s law. Even though certain early church councils condemned “spiritual marriages” and concubinage among priests, usually they did little but warn priests that they could not expect advancement while guilty of such practices. In the sixth century Popes Pelagius I and II on the one hand refused to advance clerics who had children by lawfully wedded wives but did advance those who had children by concubines. In the twelfth century matters were made far more difficult for priests who had married than for those who had openly been guilty of concubinage. This caused Gratian, “the father of canon law” of the Catholic Church, to exclaim: “Here is a case where lechery has more rights at law than chastity!”

In the thirteenth century Pope Innocent ruled that a man who had had many concubines could be ordained to the priesthood but not one who was lawfully married the second time after the death of his first wife. And in the sixteenth century the “sainted” Thomas More summed up the church’s official position by stating that marriage “defileth a man [that is, a priest] more than double or treble whoredom.” So it is that one seldom, if ever, hears of a priest being excommunicated because of fornication, but we do hear of their being unfrocked because of having married.

God’s Word commands self-control. It limits sex relations to properly married couples. It makes no position in the Christian congregation dependent upon celibacy, and the continence it recommends is wholly a voluntary, individual matter. God’s way is reasonable and just; it shows divine understanding and love. It reaps good fruits.—1 John 5:3.

But compulsory clerical celibacy finds support only in asceticism, which is of pagan origin. Weighed in the balances of reason, the facts and the Scriptures, compulsory clerical celibacy is found to be sadly wanting, bringing forth only bitter fruits. It clearly comes under the prophetic condemnation: “The inspired utterance says definitely that in later periods of time some will fall away from the faith, . . . forbidding to marry.”—1 Tim. 4:1-3.

A Study Every Night

“FOUR years ago one of Jehovah’s witnesses called at my door. I took out a subscription for the Awake! and Watchtower magazines, but soon afterward I moved to a new address. When he called again, the Witness must have wondered where I had gone.

“Although I didn’t see another Witness until six months ago—three and a half years after I took out the subscriptions—as each year went by I regularly renewed the subscriptions for my precious Watchtower and Awake! magazines.

“Meanwhile I started a study with my wife and two young children. For three years I studied with them every night of the week except when we had visitors, which was very seldom, and then we would witness to the visitors.

“The Watchtower of May 15, 1960, had a great effect on my life. The article ‘What Prevents Me from Getting Baptized?’ made me ask myself that question. I decided that there was nothing except that there was not a dedicated Witness to baptize me, and I thought perhaps I needed as much knowledge as Jesus Christ had when he got baptized. I decided though that if I could find a Witness I would ask him to teach me more and then when I knew enough I would ask to get baptized.

“It was nine more months after that Watchtower on baptism came out that a Witness called and found me home one afternoon. I was so happy, and he must have been very surprised when I asked him to come in at once and to teach me more about the Bible. Since then we have had a regular home Bible study, every week. I soon realized that it was not necessary and, in fact, was impossible to have as much knowledge as Jesus did before I could get baptized. The Witness who was studying with me mentioned that there would be an assembly in Salisbury and that there would be a baptism service there. I decided to wait until then—it was only a few months away—to get baptized.

“At last the day came to which I had looked forward so long. How great was my joy to be baptized at last, to symbolize the dedication I had made in my heart when I read that wonderful magazine on baptism last year! Imagine how happy I was, though, to see my loving wife get baptized alongside me in the pool. Truly Jehovah blessed the study I had with her, because here she was as a recommendation of my ministry to her of the wonderful truths in the Bible as revealed to me by the Watchtower and Awake! magazines and Jehovah’s loving witnesses. We still study regularly every night as a family, and we both look forward to the time when our children become dedicated Witnesses also.

“Now it is our intention soon to go and serve where the need is great in other territory where we can use our knowledge of Portuguese.”—Brother F., Southern Rhodesia.