Clerical Celibacy: The Heritage - Tapa dura

"Bible scholar and historian William Phipps has made a thorough review of the tradition of clerical celibacy in Christianity, and he has given us the most complete and accessible summary available today. He takes us through Old Testament Judaism, the New Testament, the church fathers, the Middle Ages, the Reformation, and modern research. He has read everything. In hundreds of footnotes and references he gives us, in effect, an encyclopedia on clerical celibacy. His conclusion is stated plainly: clerical celibacy was a latecomer to Christianity, and it caused incredible damage. In all denominations it should now be made voluntary, not obligatory. It has held back the Roman Catholic Church and continues to do so. Here is a good sourcebook for everyone interested in all angles of the celibacy debate." Dean Hoge, author of Evolving Visions of the Priesthood--Sanford Lakoff '[A] careful study of mandated celibacy. I am aware of no other single volume that more clearly and thoroughly addresses the stormy heritage of clerical celibacy.' Donald Cozzens, Interpretation, July 2006--Sanford Lakoff "Interpretation "

Phipps' study gives a comprehensive, historically-based account of the commitment of the Roman Catholic Church to a celibate priesthood. His position is, he states, 'conservative, not radical. Mandatory celibacy is relatively new-fangled, having appeared during the last half of the church's existence. The innovation was imposed in the feudal and crusading era, a dark period for the Church.' Phipps' understanding comes from probing ancient religious texts, from the careful study of church history, and by finding studies that provide factual assessments of the general individual and cultural consequences of celibacy. He avoids unrepresentative journalistic anecdote and provides balance, by allowing celibate advocates and church representatives to speak for themselves. The book is distinguished by its application of a modern methodology to biblical texts in examination of the biblical justifications for celibacy.