Replies

St. Paul wrote at length about the fulfillment of the O.T. by the sacrifice of Jesus, and how Christians were freed from the Mosaic Law through His self-offering to the Father. The New Covenant fulfilled the old, and in doing so replaced the laws of the old.

We no longer use circumcision as a sign of the Covenant.

The first council of Jerusalem ended the debate, according to the Acts of the Apostles. At the council, St. Paul spoke forcefully about what he believed to be prerequisites for becoming a Christian, and he was told to return to the Gentiles and to tell them that all they need do was stop their pagan ways and not to eat food sacrificed to idols. Circumcision was not mentioned as a requirement. The church, with the supreme teaching imprimatur of St. Peter, decided it was not required.

I cannot venture into the health benefits of circumcision. I do know that, rarely, the foreskin can cause a constriction that impairs organ function, but that is easily remedied and is even more rarely threatening to life or health. Discomfort drives one to a doctor long before illness results. Cleanliness is the only reason I've ever heard advanced as an argument for circumcision, but I think that's kind of lame.

My parents opted for circumcision for me. Is it necessary for any reason? No.