Quote:
Originally posted by Beryana
Tom, unfortunately you really do need to do some research.
After about 3AD (at the latest probably - I can try and find an exact time if you really would like) BISHOPS were not allowed to be married. Proof of this is found in the Eastern Orthodox Churches were if you are a married priest you will never be able to be a Bishop. I think you are confusing this fact with the Holy Roman Empire - which is basically the original Roman Empire with the word HOLY added when it got the blessing of the Pope.
Vatican City is in FACT a country in Europe. If it were only a state in Italy it would not have its own diplomatic corp - nor its own money (up until joining the EU) and postal system. Basically it has everything that the US has with the exception of a standing army. Vatican City became its own country back in the ealy 20th century, by the way.
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I thought the loss of the right to marry and hold lands happened later than 3AD...it's been a while though on that...
Vatican City is a city, the proper title is the Holy Roman See whose legal base is (orriginally) derived the Italian constitution which grants the state soverignty. The UN Recoginizes the Holy Roman See, not Vatican City. But prior to the use of the Euro, Vatican City used the Lira, not an independent currency. It would have been cost prohibitive to produce their own money. Perhaps a ways back they had independent currency, but it was the lira before the Euro.
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