Priestly Celibacy: Paul, Jesus’ apostle who carried Christianity to the non-Jewish world, showed that celibacy was not required. He wrote: “Do we not have the right to take along a Christian wife, as do the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Kephas [Peter]?”​—1 Corinthians 9:5, The New American Bible, Saint Joseph Edition.

He also wrote: “It behoveth therefore a bishop to be . . . the husband of one wife.”​—1 Timothy 3:2, Roman Catholic Douay Version; see also 1 Timothy 4:1-3.

No Remarriage: Jesus showed that there is one sin against a person’s mate that is so serious that it can make divorce and remarriage permissible. He said: “I now say to you, whoever divorces his wife (lewd conduct is a separate case) and marries another commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Matthew 19:9, NAB) In a footnote to verse 9 the above-mentioned Bible translation states: “Lewd conduct is a separate case: literally ‘except for porneia,’ i. e., immorality, fornication, even incest.”

Rules Regarding Contraception: The Bible says children should be loved, cared for, and reared according to godly principles, but nowhere does it state that each act of sexual intercourse should provide the opportunity for a child to be conceived. It does not mention birth control to limit the size of a family within marriage.

If the Catholic Church were truly an institution governed by Christ Jesus, then all its teachings and practices would be in complete harmony with God’s Word, the Holy Scriptures. It would not be experiencing division among its bishops, priests, and church members. The matter is serious. Jesus said: “Every kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin, and a household divided against itself collapses.” (Luke 11:17, JB)

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Celibacy Not a First-Century Command

Pope Paul VI endorsed the requirement of celibacy for the clergy but acknowledged that “the New Testament which preserves the teaching of Christ and the Apostles . . . does not openly demand celibacy of sacred ministers . . . Jesus Himself did not make it a prerequisite in His choice of the Twelve, nor did the Apostles for those who presided over the first Christian communities.”​—Sacerdotalis Caelibatus (Priestly Celibacy, 1967).

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“Drive Out This Evil-Doer . . . ”

The apostle Paul told first-century Christians what to do about an immoral person in the congregation: “You should not associate with a brother Christian who is leading an immoral life . . . You must drive out this evil-doer from among you.” Does your church really do that?​—1 Corinthians 5:11-13, JB.