As much I sympathize with letter writer Mike Mosser’s opinion on married and female clergy (“Church rules,” Voice of the people, April 12), his facts do nothing to promote his position.
First: Primogeniture (first son inheriting everything) was not the norm throughout Europe in the Middle Ages (though eldest sons usually were favored to take over the father’s position).
Second: Families often encouraged younger sons and daughters (not the eldest) to enter the church (including monastic orders).
Third: Married men could and did give property to the church; and women, married and single, could and did own and give away property, and indeed were great benefactors of the church. (Let me note, too, that though the church did accept slavery, to say it “advocated” slavery is exaggerated.)
One of several reasons the church finally disallowed married priests in the 11th Century was because it feared creating dynasties that would turn church property into family property.