Page 208: Since the Reformation, all Protestant communities have categorically rejected celibacy as a discipline for their clergy. Celibate religious brothers and sisters likewise almost entirely vanished in Protestantism. Yet consecrated celibacy was practiced in the Church from the very beginning.
Note: From the beginning the Apostles were married.
Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them. Matthew 8:14-15.
Note: Catholic Tradition is in violation of Scripture.

Pages 208-209: Martin Luther rejected priestly celibacy in a reaction against the Church’s distinction between clergy and laity. (The Church taught that clergy were given a special mark by God in the sacrament of holy orders.) Once again we see Luther’s influence upon the rest of Protestantism. He interpreted the priesthood of all believers to mean that no distinction existed between clergy and laity – and so clergy should be allowed to marry. Luther encouraged monks and nuns to abandon their vows, following his own example, and he soon married a former nun.
Note: From the beginning the Apostles were married.
On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. Acts 21:8-9.
Note: Catholic Tradition is in violation of Scripture.

Pages 209-210: It might seem surprising that the practices of celibacy and consecrated virginity for the sake of the kingdom could be considered reasons in favor of the Catholic Church. Yet it is so. The basis for Catholicism’s teachings on celibacy come straight from Jesus and St. Paul. Jesus addresses the question in Matthew’s Gospel: (Matt. 19:1-12).
Note: Jesus Christ used the word eunuch not celibate. The word celibate never occurs in Scripture.
A eunuch (/ˈjuːnək/; Greek: εὐνοῦχος) is a man who (by the common definition of the term) may have been castrated, typically early enough in his life for this change to have major hormonal consequences. Wikipedia Encyclopedia.
Note: Catholic Tradition is in violation of Scripture.

Page 211: St. Paul was one such celibate, and he commends virginity for the sake of the kingdom in 1 Corinthians: I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs – how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world – how he can please his wife – and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world – how she can please her husband (1 Corinthians 7:7-8, 32-34, NIV).
Note: In context, the Apostles thought the end of the world was at hand so they didn't make plans.
But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Note: Why did the author dishonestly quote Scripture out of context?

Page 211: We saw earlier that Protestant’s rejection of celibacy for the kingdom comes not from the Bible which commends the practice, but from following a tradition begun by Martin Luther in his reaction against some abuses of clerical power. Luther overreacted to these abuses and threw out the baby with the bathwater, and all Protestantism followed suit. It is fair to ask, however, why we should follow the tradition of Martin Luther over the words of Christ and Paul?
Note: From the beginning the Apostles were married.
Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. My defense to those who examine me is this: Do we have no right to eat and drink? Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? 1 Corinthians 9:1-5.
Note: Blessed Virgin Mary naturally had children after the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.

Page 212: If Protestantism is true, then even though Jesus established celibacy for the kingdom, and Paul affirmed it in his own life and exhorted others to it, and the Holy Spirit made this vocation within the Church fruitful for centuries, in reality it was a corrupted practice that needed to be reformed more than 1,500 years later.
Note: From the beginning the Apostles were married.
Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. Mark 1:29-31.
Note: Catholic Tradition is in violation of Scripture.
Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them. Luke 4:38-39.
Note: Why did the author arrive at false conclusions? Ignorance? Dishonesty? Cult mindset?

MAIN INDEX

BIBLE INDEX

HINDU INDEX

MUSLIM INDEX

MORMON INDEX

BUDDHISM INDEX

WORD FAITH INDEX

WATCHTOWER INDEX

MISCELLANEOUS INDEX

CATHOLIC CHURCH INDEX