Clerical Celibacy & Marriage Discipline
Whether a priest may marry — a single question answered differently across the Christian world
This is the discipline governing whether clergy may marry, ranging from mandatory celibacy to a married priesthood. The Council of Elvira (c. 305) addressed clerical continence, and the Council of Nicaea declined to impose universal celibacy. The traditions differ: Latin Catholics require priestly celibacy; the Eastern, Oriental, and Church of the East traditions ordain married men while reserving the episcopate for the celibate; and Protestants permit married clergy.
How it traveled
- On Monogamy.— · 220applies
- The First Ecumenical Council: The First Council of NiceNicaea · 325explains
- The Canons of the Councils of Ancyra, Gangra, Neocæsarea, Antioch and Laodicea, which Canons were Accepted and Received by the Ecumenical Synods— · 360applies
- The LettersCaesarea (Cappadocia) · 379applies
- On the Duties of the ClergyMilan · 397explains
- The Letters of St. JeromeBethlehem · 420applies
- The Ecclesiastical History of Socrates ScholasticusConstantinople (Istanbul) · 439explains
- The Ecclesiastical History of SozomenConstantinople (Istanbul) · 450applies
- The Letters and Sermons of Leo the GreatRome · 461explains
- The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the GreatRome · 604explains
- The Canons of the Council in Trullo; Often Called The Quinisext CouncilConstantinople (Istanbul) · 692applies
- The Canons of the Synods of Sardica, Carthage, Constantinople, and Carthage Under St. Cyprian, Which Canons Were Received by the Council in Trullo and Ratified by II. NiceConstantinople (Istanbul) · 692explains
- Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic ChurchGeneva · 1564applies
Key passages(20)
The Canons of the Council in Trullo; Often Called The Quinisext Council · The Ecumenical Councils
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
On the Duties of the Clergy · Ambrose of Milan
The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the Great · Pope Gregory the Great
The Canons of the Council in Trullo; Often Called The Quinisext Council · The Ecumenical Councils
The Canons of the Council in Trullo; Often Called The Quinisext Council · The Ecumenical Councils
The Canons of the Council in Trullo; Often Called The Quinisext Council · The Ecumenical Councils
The Canons of the Council in Trullo; Often Called The Quinisext Council · The Ecumenical Councils
The Canons of the Council in Trullo; Often Called The Quinisext Council · The Ecumenical Councils
The Canons of the Councils of Ancyra, Gangra, Neocæsarea, Antioch and Laodicea, which Canons were Accepted and Received by the Ecumenical Synods · The Ecumenical Councils
The Canons of the Synods of Sardica, Carthage, Constantinople, and Carthage Under St. Cyprian, Which Canons Were Received by the Council in Trullo and Ratified by II. Nice · The Ecumenical Councils
The Ecclesiastical History of Sozomen · Sozomen
The First Ecumenical Council: The First Council of Nice · The Ecumenical Councils
The First Ecumenical Council: The First Council of Nice · The Ecumenical Councils
The Letters of St. Jerome · Jerome
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin