Why do some Christians criticize Catholicism for requiring celibacy for its priests and nuns?
Celibacy should be a choice left to the individual, not a policy dictated by a religious order. Paul made it very clear in 1 Timothy 4:1-5 that explicit and forced prohibition of marriage and the eating of meat are not the teachings of God. One can choose to do any of these for health or other reasons, and such practices are not discouraged. Explicit prohibition of marriage is especially perplexing given that marriage is the first interpersonal relationship God created, and mankind is given explicit instructions to uphold such social structure including the appropriate sexual practices involved (Genesis 2:24).
