present - a matter which they know has been most religiously
observed by their ancestors, most Christian princes.


II. Of the Marriage of Priests.

Their enumeration among abuses, in the second place, of the
celibacy of the clergy, and the manner in which their priests
marry and persuade others to marry, are verily matters worthy
of astonishment, since they call sacerdotal celibacy an
abuse, when that which is directly contrary, the violation of
celibacy and the illicit transition to marriage, deserves to
be called the worst abuse in priests. For that priests ought
never to marry Aurelius testifys in the second Council of
Carthage, where he says: "Because the apostles taught thus by
example, and antiquity itself has preserved it, let us also
maintain it." And a little before a canon to this effect is
read: "Resolved, That the bishops, presbyters and deacons, or
those who administer the sacraments, abstain, as guardians of
chastity, from wives." From these words it is clear that this
tradition has been received from the apostles, and not
recently devised by the Church. Augustine, following Aurelius
in the last question concerning the Old and New Testaments,
writes upon these words, and asks: "If perhaps it be said, if
it is lawful and good to marry, why are not priests
permitted to have wives?" Pope Caliztus, a holy man and a
martyr, decided thirteen hundred years ago that priest
should not marry. The like is read also in the holy Councils
of Caesarea, Neocaesarea, Africa, Agde, Gironne, Meaux, and
Orleans. Thus the custom has been observed from the time of