Celibacy's history of power and money. (Perspectives).(Catholic Church) From: National Catholic Reporter | Date: April 12, 2002| Author: Jones, Arthur | COPYRIGHT 2002 National Catholic Reporter. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

Whoa, slow down a minute on the celibacy talk and married priests. Let's remind ourselves how the Catholic church got into the celibacy mess.

It didn't have anything to do with sex, purity and holiness.

It was the money.

And when one mixes money and the Catholic church, there's usually a mess. That's how we got a Reformation. Selling indulgences -- guarantees of time off in purgatory.

If the church tried selling indulgences today it woul...