# Gelded Priests―Still barred from remaining priests? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 18, 2008, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gelded-priests-still-barred-from-remaining-priests/453309 "2008-06-18T05:57:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gelded-priests-still-barred-from-remaining-priests/453309/1 "2008-06-18T05:57:35Z")
If someone gelds a priest, is the priest still barred from continuing to be a priest like Abelard was? If Benedict XVI was gelded, would he have to stop being the Pope? ---
**Author:** ![Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gelded-priests-still-barred-from-remaining-priests/453309/2 "2008-06-18T06:07:04Z")
I am referring to Roman Catholic priests. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gelded-priests-still-barred-from-remaining-priests/453309/3 "2008-06-18T11:35:55Z")
The Code of Canon Law, Title VI, Chapters I and II, lay out the requirements for ordination, and while I won’t quote them here in their entirety, suffice to say no such regulation exists today. The closest is perhaps Can. 1041, 5ƒ, referring to mutilation. But the regulation prohibits: > [@](#): > > …one who has gravely and maliciously mutilated himself or another, or who has attempted suicide… So, no. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gelded-priests-still-barred-from-remaining-priests/453309/4 "2008-06-18T12:25:52Z")
I am not going to Google “Castrated priests” just because I bet someone has a fetish site. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gelded-priests-still-barred-from-remaining-priests/453309/5 "2008-06-18T12:41:56Z")
Why would anyone geld a priest? Don’t their owners rely on stud fes for income after they’re too old to race? ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gelded-priests-still-barred-from-remaining-priests/453309/6 "2008-06-18T13:47:38Z")
Was there once prohibition on becoming a priest if he possessed any Jewish blood or born out of wedlock? I seem to remember those as well. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gelded-priests-still-barred-from-remaining-priests/453309/7 "2008-06-18T23:05:52Z")
born out of wedlock for sure, although some did find a way around it. also candidate had to be a virgin, once again some did find ways around it. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gelded-priests-still-barred-from-remaining-priests/453309/8 "2008-06-18T23:42:59Z")
[QUOTE=Bricker] The Code of Canon Law, Title VI, Chapters I and II, lay out the requirements for ordination, and while I won’t quote them here in their entirety, suffice to say no such regulation exists today. The closest is perhaps Can. 1041, 5ƒ, referring to mutilation. But the regulation prohibits: So, no. [/QUOTE] But, in Abelard’s case, he didn’t geld himself but was, er, _involuntarily_ gelded. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2008, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gelded-priests-still-barred-from-remaining-priests/453309/9 "2008-06-18T23:58:55Z")
Does any know the specific rule (Canon Law?) that forced Abelard out? When was it rescinded? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gelded-priests-still-barred-from-remaining-priests/453309/10 "2008-06-19T00:00:15Z")
[QUOTE=Terminus Est] But, in Abelard’s case, he didn’t geld himself but was, er, _involuntarily_ gelded. [/QUOTE] Which is the point \*\*Bricker \*\* is making I think. Under the current Code of Canon Law self-mutilation prevents a man’s ordination. There’s no mention of mutilation by another preventing a man’s ordination or affecting an already ordained priest (as in Abelard’s case). > [@Icerigger](#): > > Was there once prohibition on becoming a priest if he possessed any Jewish blood or born out of wedlock? I seem to remember those as well. I’m not sure about the Jewish bit, but illegitimacy used to be an impediment to ordination under the 1917 Code of Canon Law. This is no longer the case under the 1983 Code of Canon Law. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gelded-priests-still-barred-from-remaining-priests/453309/11 "2008-06-19T00:18:10Z")
Right – the old proscription may have been based on an OT biblical precept that eunuchs were not allowed in the Temple, but also to set the Christians apart from other Roman-era upstart religions such as the Cybele cult, which encouraged such mutilations. In modern times, though, it just makes sense to make allowance for injuries sustained involuntarily (or thru medical necessity) [QUOTE=rocking chair] also candidate had to be a virgin [/QUOTE] Considering that AFAIK it has always been allowed for widowers to enter the priesthood (and that AFAIK there’s no way to test for “virginity” in males) :\*\* cite\*\*? ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gelded-priests-still-barred-from-remaining-priests/453309/12 "2008-06-19T18:59:14Z")
pre-vatican 2 rules, like the aforementioned illegitimacy rule. candidates were strictly vetted and could be tossed out of seminary for the appearance of impropriety, let alone a claim of impropriety, or appearance of pregnancy/child. being a widower is one way around the rule, if one had a legitimate (in the eyes of the church) marriage. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gelded-priests-still-barred-from-remaining-priests/453309/13 "2008-06-19T20:34:12Z")
In the early Church some zealots interpreted Matthew 19:12 literally (“They have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of Heaven.”), including one of the great Fathers (can’t recall who, Jerome maybe). It was to discourage this practice that the Church made the rule against castration. ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gelded-priests-still-barred-from-remaining-priests/453309/14 "2008-06-19T23:14:53Z")
I think it was Origen who castrated himself so that he could preach among women and not be tempted. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gelded-priests-still-barred-from-remaining-priests/453309/15 "2008-06-19T23:39:50Z")
[QUOTE=Two and a Half Inches of Fun] Does any know the specific rule (Canon Law?) that forced Abelard out? When was it rescinded? [/QUOTE] Was Abelard “forced out”? After his castration, he became a monk at the Abbey of St. Denis, then after he got in trouble for his views on the trinity and locked up for a while, he got his judgement reversed and ended up becoming an abbot at St. Gildas de Rhuys (until he got in trouble again…). Was he ever actually laicized? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gelded-priests-still-barred-from-remaining-priests/453309/16 "2008-06-22T17:04:41Z")
[QUOTE=rocking chair] pre-vatican 2 rules, like the aforementioned illegitimacy rule. candidates were strictly vetted and could be tossed out of seminary for the appearance of impropriety, let alone a claim of impropriety, or appearance of pregnancy/child. being a widower is one way around the rule, if one had a legitimate (in the eyes of the church) marriage. [/QUOTE] That’s not the same thing as saying there was a rule that candidates for priesthood had to be **virgins**. Cite request stands. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gelded-priests-still-barred-from-remaining-priests/453309/17 "2008-06-23T13:58:26Z")
FWIW, a (Catholic) poster on another message board that I visit insists that vasectomy is a form of self-mutilation. So, theoretically, if a snipped widower wanted to enter the priesthood, would he be considered to have self-mutilated? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gelded-priests-still-barred-from-remaining-priests/453309/18 "2008-06-23T22:14:07Z")
[QUOTE=HeyHomie] FWIW, a (Catholic) poster on another message board that I visit insists that vasectomy is a form of self-mutilation. So, theoretically, if a snipped widower wanted to enter the priesthood, would he be considered to have self-mutilated? [/QUOTE] Canon 1041(5), as quoted by \*\*Bricker \*\* above, specifically refers to “one who has gravely and maliciously mutilated himself”. I have no idea whether vasectomy is considered both grave and malicious. Since it would normally be carried out by a doctor I doubt that it’s even considered self-inflicted.