Clerical Celibacy

In light of the sexual abuse scandals involving professed celibates Phipps (emeritus religion and philosophy Davis and Elkins College West Virginia) explores the alleged biblical authority for clerical celibacy scrutinizing relevant biblical texts with the methodology of modern literary-historical criticism. He finds that mandatory celibacy is a Vatican policy implemented during the feudal and crusading era against the opposition of Eastern Orthodoxy and the lower echelons of Roman Catholicism. As a Protestant minister he believes that compulsory celibacy should no longer be tolerated because it has corrupted Christian theology and practice. Annotation 2004 Book News Inc. Portland OR (booknews)