Dear marajade,
Here is how the New American Bible puts it:
"Therefore, a bishop must be irreproachable, married only once,..." 1 Tim 3:2
Now, there's nothing here that says the bishop must have been married at least once. However, one might make that interpretation, except that elsewhere St. Paul strongly encourages the vow of celibacy. As well, Jesus Himself encourages making oneself a "eunuch for the sake of the Kingdom." Matt 19:12
"I believe the book of Timothy states..."
That's interesting, what you believe. For us Catholics, we believe that it is the Church, who received her authority from the Apostles, and thus from Jesus Himself, who has the authority to definitively interpret Scripture.
I can see how you come to your interpretation. My intellect prefers the teaching of the Church as seemingly better fitting all the scriptures involved.
However, the conclusions of my own intellect aside, by an act of will, I assent to the teaching and discipline of the Catholic Church, and submit my intellect to her, as it is within the Church of Christ that the authority to teach resides.
sitetest
"For us Catholics, we believe that it is the Church, who received her authority from the Apostles, and thus from Jesus Himself, who has the authority to definitively interpret Scripture."
So tell me, how many Catholic priests in your church have been married once?
M7y take would be that the "Church" doesn't interpret anything. The "Church" does not teach, although we say that a lot. PEOPLE interpret and teach. We simply believe in a hierarchical structure that keeps us all singing from the same page, to some extent. We don't just make it up as we go along. I think we say the "Church" because it's not just this Pope, but all the popes who establish the church's teachings. Moreover, it's not just the Pope, the Cardinals have huge input, and they, as well as all Archbishops and Bishops have significant power over their own Bishoprics.