A question I’ve wondered about for many years is when celibacy actually became required for Catholic priests, as well as nuns and brothers. I’ve heard different stories and have read some of the history telling of married popes. Anybody know?
What Celibacy Is, and Isn’t says:
That’s a syndicated column, so I won’t post more, but you might want to read it’s description of the quasi-celibate state of the western Church before the 12th century.
The Catholic Encyclopedia gives much more complete history of celibacy in the Church, describing its gradual adoption over several hundred years.
I must assure you that celibacy IS NOT hereditary 
Ask your father! - Jinx
P.S. Sorry, I couldn’t resist…John Cleese would be proud!
My Western Civ professor (whose specialty was religious history) seemed to believe that the laws of celibacy were important in allowing the spread of Christianity throughout Western Europe.
The priesthood was a great place for younger sons of nobles to earn a living. This created a reciprocal fealty between the Church and the ruling class. If priests had been fathering sons, then the Church could be independent of the ruling class. Had that been the case, you can imagine that Charlemagne wouldn’t have trusted them any more than Stalin did.
Whether this was the reason for celibacy, or just the result of it, I don’t know.
I do not think that they have ever been allowed to marry. The whole point of religious communities has tended to be to renounce worldly ties (especially family life). (This is different than a membership in, say, the Third Order of St. Francis and similar groups in which a person makes a commitment to God in their lives and follows a particular regimen of prayer. Married people are invited to join such orders, but your point specifically mentions “nuns and brothers.”)
A short history of celibacy (mostly taken from the Catholic Encyclopedia article) was posted here some time back. (The Catholic Encyclopedia site has been acting flaky, this week.)
I do not think that they have ever been allowed to marry. The whole point of religious communities has tended to be to renounce worldly ties (especially family life). (This is different than a membership in, say, the Third Order of St. Francis and similar groups in which a person makes a commitment to God in their lives and follows a particular regimen of prayer. Married people are invited to join such orders, but your point specifically mentions “nuns and brothers.”)
A short history of celibacy (mostly taken from the Catholic Encyclopedia article) was posted here some time back. (The Catholic Encyclopedia site has been acting flaky, this week.)
This may be over simplistic but, what I’ve read is that “back in the day”, there really wasnt much in the way of salary or the means by which the church could house and feed a priest by himself, much less a wife and 8 children. So, in short, being a priest, he could not possibly provide for his family since he works for God and doesn’t actually receive a wage so, the church decreed celibacy.
I don’t necessarily buy that, but, that’s what I’ve read.
It would seem from recent events that some priests don’t feel it has ever become a requirement.