Clerical Celibacy: The Heritage

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.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction; My Approach; Defining Terms; 2. The Pre-Christian Era; Jewish Culture; Pagan Cultures; 3. A Celibate Jesus? Arguments Pro and Con; His Sexual Orientation; 4. The Apostolic Era; Paul's Letters; Other New Testament Writings; 5. The Patristic Era; Movement toward Sexual Abstinence; Monasticism and Jerome; Augustine's Anti-Sex Theology; 6. The Medieval Era; Roman-Byzantine Split over Clerical Marriage; Papal Attempts to Put Asunder Espoused Clerics; 7. From Luther to Paul VI; The Anti-Celibate Protestants; The Counter-Reformation; Vatican II and Aftermath; 8. The Contemporary Era; John Paul II's Intransigence; Diocese Problems; Abusive Prelates; 9. Conclusion; The Fiasco in Summary; On Imitating Jesus; On Removing the Fiasco

About the Author :
William E. Phipps was Emeritus Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Davis and Elkins College, USA.

Review :
"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 "Phipps provides a comprehensive, historically- based account of the Roman Catholic Church's commitment to a celibate priesthood. He does this by careful exegesis of pertinent biblical passages by an exhaustively documented search of historical church documents. I would recommend the book to anyone who is interested in a thorough examination of the biblical texts used to advocate for and against celibacy."- Catholic Books Review "An absolute gem of a book, scholarly and completely accessible to the lay person... This is a brilliant compendium of the church's failed attempt to impose celibacy on a generally unwilling and fallible priesthood. Remarkably candid in his evaluation of another communion's discipline, Phipps says that Roman Catholicism has retreated to its institutional tower along the Tiber and refu7ses to face the reasons thousands are departing the priesthood."- Catholic New Times, December 18, 2005 '[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 "Protestant scholar Phipps is, to put it mildly, unimpressed with the Roman Catholic discipline of clerical celibacy, calling it diseased, inhumane, and anachronistic, among other choice adjectives. Admittedly, a chapter on Jesus' purported celibacy is admirable balanced in its careful presentation of arguments both pro and con.... scattered among the flak of over 1200 references are many pertinent historical and theological facts, so a public library without prior holding in the subject might want to purchast the book along with a work from the other side of the debate." -Library Journal, October 1, 2004