Date of Award
2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
First Advisor
McCarthy, Thomas
Area of Concentration
History
Abstract
The Roman Catholic Church’s current stance that all clergy remain celibate has not always been the practice of Western Christianity. Attempts to enforce clerical celibacy have consistently been tied to the pontificate of Gregory VII (1073-1085). However, the actual evidence for this ultimately seems to be lacking. Gregory’s efforts against the heresy of “nicolaitism” were closely tied to struggles for greater papal authority and ultimately waylaid by more pressing concerns. By studying the letter of Pope Gregory VII, this thesis attempts to understand more full the nature of Gregory’s actual statements on clerical marriage and clerical chastity, and place them in context of the broader eleventh-century reform movement.
Recommended Citation
Freeman, Tyler, "GREGORY VII AND CLERICAL CELIBACY" (2017). Theses & ETDs. 5349.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/5349