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Show ! Celibacy Among th. Cl.rgy. , During the first three centuries the marriage of the clergy was freely pr- J mltted, but by the Council of Elvira, early In th. fourth century, continence i was enjoined on all who served at the ( altar. For centuries this subject led to many struggles In the church, but ! was finally settled, by Gregory VII. j positively forbidding the marriage of C the clergy. The Council of Trent In t 1545 confirmed this rule. In the Greek church celibacy Is not compulsory on i the ordinary clergy. Protestants hold k that there Is no moral superiority In f celibacy over marriage and that the 1 church has no right to impose such an i obligation on any class of her minis- K ten. . . |