operabari

If you're looking for a Biblical defence of the RCC's stronger leaning on good works, look to the book of James. Archangel quoted it, but there it is.

I would point out that if you question the RCC's power to put books on the "scripture" list, you cut out the entire biblical canon we have today. They put all of them there. Cut off the branch and the apples all fall off. Luther cut out Maccabees simply because he found prayer for the dead an uncomfortable possibility. Easier to pretend a possible contradiction doesn't exist, I guess.

Another reason for celebate priests is the fact that the Church had so much more direct responsibility for the family of the priest, monetarily. What does the church do if the father dies, support his family till they die? $$$$ Many an early church bemoaned the lazy son of a dead priest that was simply leaching off the congregation. Family of priests in the early church also tended to claim church property for their own when their father died. Sticky leagal problems abounded. Much simpler and cleaner if that isn't there.

I'll try to find other threads, I promise. I just get drawn to these with my limited time.

Sorry, guys. Got opera auditions coming up so....yup. It's opers lyrics.

From Britten's "Billy Budd"

And farewell to ye, old Rights O' Man!

Never your joys no more

Farewell to this grand rough world

Never more shipmates, no more sea

No looking down from the heights to the depths

But I've sighted a sail on the storm

A far shining sail that's not fate and I'm contented

I've seen where she's bound for

she has a land of her own where she'll anchor forever

Oh, I'm contented

Don't matter now being hanged,

or being forgotten and caught in the weeds

don't matter now!