Dear Esteemed Members of the Catholic Church,

I trust this letter finds you well. My name is Ashley Amos, and I am a Christian apologist committed to fostering open dialogue and understanding within the diverse tapestry of the body of Christ. I am initiating a project aimed at reaching diverse Christian denominations to participate in a written dialogue concerning doctrinal points in the Bible. The purpose of this project is rooted in a sincere desire for clarity, understanding, and, ultimately, the prospect of positive transformation and reconciliation within the body of Christ. As believers in Jesus the Christ, we share a common faith and a devotion to the teachings of the Bible. Yet, the richness of our Christian heritage has led to diverse interpretations of certain doctrinal aspects. I am reaching out to you today to initiate a written dialogue, delving into doctrinal points in the Bible that have been instrumental in shaping the beliefs of the various Christian denominations.

First, let me state that I believe we are brothers in Christ and I respect your decision to lay your life aside for Jesus who is the Christ. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that not all Christian denominations can hold absolute correctness in their doctrines. I am of the conviction that engaging in meaningful discussions is essential so that we can examine our beliefs beyond the confines of the denominational perspectives that many of us are immersed in. This vital conversation is indispensable to evaluate whether our beliefs are truly rooted in God’s truth or are inadvertently influenced by human wisdom.

The body of Christ has been divided by the various denominational doctrines over the past 2000 years. During my lifetime I would like to put forth a concerted effort, to at least attempt to cause a beginning of dialogue within the body of Christ. I think it will take a lifetime just to begin this process, but with God, anything is possible and we must have faith and hope in this characteristic of God. What we begin in our lifetime/generation, God can bring others to carry on and eventually finish.

I would like to start with a written dialogue with you in regards to the issue of “Why priests cannot get married within the Catholic church?”

As I examine the Bible, I don’t find any specific prohibition against priests, pastors, or teachers getting married. I hold the belief that the imposition of celibacy within certain denominational teachings like the Catholic Church,  is a man-made regulation and lacks biblical support. This regulation has, unfortunately, led to significant pain and hardship for many families within the Catholic Church, notably in the form of sexual abuse. It’s worth noting that in Old Testament times, Levitical priests were allowed to get married, which adds an additional layer of complexity to the discussion. The unintended consequences of such regulations are evident in the emotional struggles faced by priests dealing with sexual frustration, shame, and guilt.

Ezekiel 44:15-16 & 22 –  “But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept the charge of my sanctuary when the people of Israel went astray from me, shall come near to me to minister to me. And they shall stand before me to offer me the fat and the blood, declares the Lord God. 16 They shall enter my sanctuary, and they shall approach my table, to minister to me, and they shall keep my charge….22 They shall not marry a widow or a divorced woman, but only virgins of the offspring of the house of Israel, or a widow who is the widow of a priest.

Leviticus 21:7 & 13-14 – They shall not marry a prostitute or a woman who has been defiled, neither shall they marry a woman divorced from her husband, for the priest is holy to his God….13 And he shall take a wife in her virginity. 14 A widow, or a divorced woman, or a woman who has been defiled, or a prostitute, these he shall not marry. But he shall take as his wife a virgin of his own people,

We also know that the prophets had wives, such as the Prophet Ezekial.

Ezekiel 24:15-18 –  The word of the Lord came to me: 16 “Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down. 17 Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.” 18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did as I was commanded.

We know that the patriarchs had wives.

Abraham had Sarah,

Genesis 12:5 – And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,

Genesis 17:15 – And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.

Isaac had Rebekah,

Genesis 24:67 –  Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

And Jacob had Leah and Rachel,

Genesis 29:28-30 – Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29 (Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.) 30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.

Moses was married:

Exodus 2:16-22 – Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock. 18 When they came home to their father Reuel, he said, “How is it that you have come home so soon today?” 19 They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and even drew water for us and watered the flock.” 20 He said to his daughters, “Then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. 22 She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.”

We also know that the initial Levitical priest, Aaron, was married. Otherwise, his descendants would not have been able to fulfil their responsibilities in the Temple of God.

Exodus 6:23 – Aaron took as his wife Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

Leviticus 10:1 – Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them.

Leviticus 10:12 – Moses spoke to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar, his surviving sons: “Take the grain offering that is left of the Lord’s food offerings, and eat it unleavened beside the altar, for it is most holy.

We see an example of a Levitical priest’s marriage in the New Testament through Zechariah and Elizabeth. The Bible not only says that they were married, but also that they were both righteous before God.

Luke 1:5-11 –  In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. 8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

The Apostle Peter was married:

Matthew 8:14 – And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever.

If Peter had a mother in law, then he must have had a wife. And in 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul confirms that Peter had a wife, along with all the other apostles except for Paul and Barnabus.

1 Corinthians 9:5 –  Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?

Additionally, in the New Testament, we see rules regarding all forms of elders in the church, including rules for their wives, which means that marriage is allowed.

Regarding elders.

Titus 1:6 – if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.

Regarding overseers.

1 Timothy 3:1-2 – The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Regarding deacons.

1 Timothy 3:8-12 – Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.

When I examine the scriptures, I see that the Bible introduces marriage as the sole remedy to prevent sexual immorality. Marriage provides a way out of burning with lust. Without this outlet, horrendous acts of sexual immorality occur. I would like to understand why the Catholic Church continues to follow an unbiblical concept, despite the obvious ramifications of sexual immorality? The only way to avoid fornication (sexual immorality) if you are burning with lust, is to get married, as written in 1 Corinthians 7:2.

I Corinthians 7:1-3 & 28 – Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband…28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned…

The King James version says ‘fornication’:

1 Corinthians 7:2 – Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

I am not stating that people have to get married or even should get married. The Bible states that if you are not burning with lust, it is better not to marry. But the Catholic church has a rule stating their priests cannot get married, which is not biblical in its finality and inflexibility. The Apostle Paul states it is not a sin to get married.

1 Corinthians 7:36-38 –  However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married. 37 But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do well. 38So then, he who marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even better.

It is up to the individual to understand and know himself and whether he can control his passions. If he cannot, he should get married. Otherwise sexual immorality (fornication) will occur. This manifests in fornication (sex outside of marriage, sexual immorality, homosexuality, sexual abuse, etc.).

I would like to give your church/denomination the opportunity to explain your reasoning behind this important issue, and to explain how this is a biblical precept. My objective is only for clarity and understanding. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I hope that we can engage in a meaningful discussion regarding this issue.

I look forward to your reply,

Ashley Amos

Christian Apologist

Ps. This open letter is published on www.amosministries.com Any response you contribute will also be featured on the site, fostering additional dialogue from both myself and the public, promoting an environment conducive to open and constructive discussions.