Celibate priests have no heirs, so the legacy goes to the Catholic Church. Imagine more than a millenium of accumulated wealth. This also nicely aligns with the tradition that important/rich families were encouraged to let 1 member of the family take up a position in the Church.
Celibate priests have no heirs, so the legacy goes to the Catholic Church. Imagine more than a millenium of accumulated wealth. This also nicely aligns with the tradition that important/rich families were encouraged to let 1 member of the family take up a position in the Church.