During the Dark Ages, which roughly spanned from the 5th to the 10th century, the practices regarding marriage among priests and monks were quite complex and varied significantly across different regions and ecclesiastical authorities.
Initially, there was no universal rule prohibiting clergy from marrying. In fact, many early Christian leaders, including some Popes, were known to have been married. However, as the church began to establish more defined doctrines and practices, a movement toward celibacy emerged, particularly in the Western Church. This change aimed to ensure that clergy could focus entirely on their religious duties without the distractions and obligations that come with family life.
By the 11th century, the reforms of the church, particularly under Popes like Gregory VII, formally prohibited priests from marrying. Monastic communities also started to adopt stricter rules regarding celibacy. These developments were influenced by a combination of theological beliefs, the desire for a more disciplined clergy, and economic factors, as property and wealth were often at stake when married priests passed their estates to heirs.
In contrast, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, while there were and still are stricter guidelines for monks, many priests were permitted to marry, especially those who were married before their ordination. This divergence highlights how cultural and theological differences shaped the practices concerning clerical marriage across Christendom.
In summary, while there were times and places in the Dark Ages where priests and monks could marry, significant reforms in the latter part of this period led to a more widespread acceptance of celibacy as a desirable state for clergy in the Western Church.