The facts remain: There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in the Bible requiring celibacy as a prerequisite for service in the priesthood. To the contrary, priests and bishops were married men in the Bible as were popes, bishops, and priests in the early Church history. Further, according to the same article:
“The Council of Trent (1545-1563) consider the matter (clerical celibacy) and at its twenty-fourth session decreed that marriage AFTER (emphasis added) ordination was invalid.”
So as late as the 16th century a priest could still be married as long as he did so before ordination.
Further, the current Pope has recently stated that clerical celibacy is NOT a dogma and the Church is open to change with regards to that policy. I totally agree.
So clerical celibacy didn’t become the norm until Trent?
Canon II of Session 24 decreed “If any one saith, that it is lawful for Christians to have several wives at the same time, and that this is not prohibited by any divine law; let him be anathema.” Does that mean that prior to Trent polygamy was the norm (or even allowed)?
Just so we’re all on the same page, canon IX of that same session is the one you’re referring to. “If any one saith, that clerics constituted in sacred orders, or Regulars, who have solemnly professed chastity, are able to contract marriage, and that being contracted it is valid, notwithstanding the ecclesiastical law, or vow; and that the contrary is no thing else than to condemn marriage; and, that all who do not feel that they have the gift of chastity, even though they have made a vow thereof, may contract marriage; let him be anathema: seeing that God refuses not that gift to those who ask for it rightly, neither does He suffer us to be tempted above that which we are able.”
Canon 33 of the Council of Elvira states “Bishops, presbyters, deacons, and others with a position in the ministry are to abstain completely from sexual intercourse with their wives and from the procreation of children. If anyone disobeys, he shall be removed from the clerical office.”
Of course Elvira was a crazy council, it prohibited images in churches in case they become objects of veneration or worship (canon 36) and canon 67 “A woman who is baptized or is a catechumen must not associate with hairdressers or men with long hair. If she does this, she is to be denied communion.”
Nevertheless it shows that clerical celibacy was on the table at least as early as AD 306. Yes clerical celibacy is a discipline and not a dogma but it is not a late innovation regarding the abuse of benefices.