Later a law of priestly celibacy became binding on all Roman Catholic priests. In fact, in the sixteenth century C.E. the Council of Trent (Session 24, Canons 9 and 10) went so far as to decree: “If anyone saith that clerics constituted in sacred orders, or regulars who have solemnly professed chastity, are able to contract marriage, and that being contracted it is valid, . . . and that all who do not feel that they have the gift of chastity, even though they have made a vow thereof, may contract marriage; let him be anathema. . . .b

“If anyone saith that the marriage state is to be placed above the state of virginity or of celibacy, and that it is not better and more blessed to remain in virginity or in celibacy than to be united in matrimony; let him be anathema.”