Celibacy Quotes
This was a fairly radical constraint on what had been a traditional priestly prerogative throughout the ages. However, the penalty for such a sin and infraction was rather modest—a warning for the first offence, followed by reducing the cleric’s income. There were more serious punishments proscribed for repeated offenses, but typical of most reform efforts a newly prohibited activity carries a very light penalty. For example $20 fines for providing alcohol to a minor was the initial penalty in some states. A then current comparison can be made since elsewhere in this council dueling between Christians was also prohibited. But the penalty for even the first offence was excommunication.
Naples was an independent kingdom before the unification of Italy. This quotation illustrates one of the lowest periods of the Roman Catholic Church where the personal morality of the Pope and Cardinals was greatly at odds with the earlier and current positions of the Church. This hypocrisy, nepotism, and corruption was one of the major factors that led to the Reformation. Note that the Pope had an illegitimate son who he named a Cardinal and the Pope wanted his son to marry the daughter of the king. The king was not enthusiastic given the son’s status as a Cardinal of the Church.
Note that the penalty for priests who married was not very great. By this Cannon, they would be forbidden to perform their priestly duties for a short while, and the marriage was dissolved, but they could maintain their rank, status and privileges although they could not advance further. This reflects the greater tolerance for marriage of the Eastern Church then the Westerners of Rome would allow. This grew to total acceptance of married priests in the Eastern Church but there were ideological differences when there was but one church.
Despite the fact that there is no scientific data that even suggests that sex weakens men, the Armed Services promulgated this and other absurd and false information in order to try and minimize the amount of sex in which GIs would participate. The same myth was carried over into sports and athletics where many people still believe it.
There were no easy cures for these venereal diseases then. The War Department (What it was called in those days.) used patriotism to encourage celibacy.
