Qualifications

Beloved, this saying is trustworthy: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. Therefore, a bishop must be irreproachable, married only once, temperate, self-controlled, decent, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children under control with perfect dignity; for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of the Church of God? He should not be a recent convert, so that he may not become conceited and thus incur the Devil's punishment. He must also have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, the Devil's trap.

Similarly, deacons must be dignified, not deceitful, not addicted to drink, not greedy for sordid gain, holding fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Moreover, they should be tested first; then, if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. Women, similarly, should be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in everything. 

Deacons may be married only once and must manage their children and their households well. Thus, those who serve well as deacons gain good standing and much confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus. (1Timothy 3:1-13)

It has been said Paul's First Epistle to Timothy likely was written sometime between 64 and 65 A.D. possibly while Paul was in Macedonia.  But, no.  Most modern scholars see it written long after his death sometime in the first decades of the second century.  The authorship of Paul has been rejected.  

For example, the issues addressed in this pastoral letter seem to belong to a later generation of early Christianity, the beginning of the process of “institutionalization.”  This included the establishment of leadership roles and qualifications for bishops and deacons.  Most Catholics believe this letter was written by Paul. The Church has done little to correct this mistake.

Importantly, bishops (and priests) could be married with families.  When was that forbidden to set the stage for marriage not being allowed and celibacy being a requirement – today’s restrictions?  Answer: in the late 11th and 12th centuries.  In 1123 the First Lateran Council formalized the celibacy requirement for the Roman Catholic priests a part of Church law driving now forbidden wives and children of priests into poverty, prostitution, orphanhood, and even slavery.  Bishops and princes alike were licensed to sell the wives of priests to the highest bidders [as allowed by Pope Urban II who, incidentally, instigated the First Crusade in 1096].  

One wonders if priests will ever be allowed to marry or married men be allowed to become priests.  Priest shortages are severe, and the situation will only get worse.  Marriage and families were commonplace during the first thousand years, so why not return to those days of sanity before patriarchy and clericalism took over forcing priests to pledge their allegiance to the church instead of their wives and children?

Perhaps women priests (or at least as deacons)?  As it stands now, not until hell freezes over, and that’s a shame in my opinion.  Qualifications cited in 1 Timothy easily apply to women. 

Deacon David Pierce