The Wife

Say what?  Jesus had a wife?  Well, no one really knows.  But even if he did, would it change anything about your faith or relationship with Jesus?  Let's deal just with the politics of it all, which is the fun part.  If an ancient document was discovered that said Jesus had red hair, would anyone make  much of it?  No.  So why make a big deal about a wife?  Politics and power might be a reason.  The history of celibacy, the attitude about sex and marriage does lean somewhat on Jesus not having a wife.  Sex, even in marriage was seen as less than holy.  Augustine thought it a venial sin, I believe.  The desert monks were celibate, as a way of getting closer to God.  No spouse to mess up their path to holiness.  A lot of guys got involved in church because because of their ambivalence about women if not a fear.  They preferred the men's club, the good ole boys of the ordained.  Then there is the whole monastic movement that says celibacy is a big part of the way to deeper relationship with God.  Monasteries without celibacy would not function as they are today.  This is all based upon Jesus being celibate.  If he was not celibate, a lot of stuff comes undone.

If we started to say that marriage is the way to follow Jesus, then what happens for all those ordained who don't really want to get married?  Celibacy does work for many people.  They feel a call to it. But for some, celibacy is simply a way to hide out.  Next, if clergy started to marry, then parishes would have to pay a living wage and the church does not want to do that.  It messes up the finances since Catholics don't tithe much.  Next, this wife issue messes with a lot of statements made about sex.  Our church teaching has always had problems with making consistently positive statements about one of God's great creations, sex.  Tell me you were brought up with a lot of positive stuff about sex?  Shhh!  Don't talk about it or ask questions.  Taboo.

My personal take on this 4th century document is that "wife" refers to a long-standing image of Christ as the groom and the church or each one of us as the bride of Christ.  In the "Song of Songs" in the Hebrew scriptures, God is the groom who seeks the bride in her chamber.  But watch the energy behind the right-wing reaction to this document.  If the Vatican is smart, it will go slow on this and let the scholars explain it.  Knee jerk reaction by anyone will only raise more doubts from the skeptics.