<P> Within a century of the Great Schism of 1054, the Churches of the East and West arrived at different disciplines as to abstaining from sexual contact during marriage . In the East, candidates for the Priesthood could be married with permission to have regular sexual relations with their wives, but were required to abstain before celebrating the Eucharist . An unmarried person, once ordained, could not marry . Additionally, the Christian East required that, before becoming a bishop, a priest separate from his wife (she was permitted to object), with her typically becoming a nun . In the East, more normally, bishops are chosen from those priests who are monks and are thus unmarried . </P> <P> In the West, the law of celibacy became mandatory by Pope Gregory VII at the Roman Synod of 1074 . This law mandated that, in order to become a candidate for ordination, a man could not be married . The law remains in effect in the Latin Church, although not for those who are priests of the Eastern Catholic Churches, who remain under their own discipline . The issue of mandatory celibacy in the Latin Church continues to be debated . </P> <P> Three main aspects to the priesthood: offering the Eucharist, hearing confessions, and counseling . Whilst continuing to hold the importance of these three aspects of priesthood, the church now has a significantly broader understanding . Priests are also responsible for daily recitation of the principal and minor offices of the Liturgy of the Hours . Priests are the only ministers of the Sacrament of Penance and Anointing of the Sick . They are the ordinary ministers of Baptism and witnesses to Holy Matrimony . </P> <P> Worldwide, the number of priests has remained fairly steady since 1970, decreasing by about 5,000 . This stagnation is due to a balance of large growth in Africa and Asia and a significant decrease in North America and Europe . </P>

Duties of a priest in the catholic church
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