Leviticus 21
It is unfortunate that marriage is listed as being defiled for the sons of Aaron. They are allowed to marry so long as they do not marry the widow of their brother etc. In other words they must marry a virgin but even when they make an acceptable match the word used to describe it is that they “defile” themselves. I can see where the Catholic church could decide to interpret that to mean that a higher law would be celebacy. Even so, it does specify that the high priest is supposed to take a virgin as his wife – he is supposed to be married.
Apparently they also sometimes use the word “whore” to describe a woman who is divorced. Priests were not allowed to visit a dead body, even their own parents.
Those of the priesthood lineage who were deformed or disabled in any way were not to offer sacrifices because the priest offering the sacrifice should be both sanctified and unblemished just as the sacrifice was to be unblemished. They had all the rights of priests and could perform other duties but they were not to offer the sacrifices.
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