Celibacy

Celibacy means swearing or deciding to avoid all forms of sexual contact, often as part of a religious tradition. (It should not be confused with asexuality, which is simply an absence of interest in sexual contact.) Celibacy of some sort is featured in many major religions, including Hinduism and the Roman Catholic Church. Celibacy is only a semi-permanent choice for Buddhist monks who can leave the monastic life and marry at any time. Unlike abstinence, which is an important and unsuccessful part of conservative sex education, celibacy is considered to be life long, in general, and a vow of celibacy prevents a person marrying. Roman Catholic Priests are usually required to be celibate for life, see exceptions below. Protestants are generally relaxed about people, including priests, ministers, pastors whatever marrying and having sex afterwards, the Shakers were an exception and required even married couples who converted to stop sex with each other.

Religious requirements

The requirement of celibacy is what makes some Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox priests, monks, and nuns frustrated. If they keep their vow of celibacy they are not allowed to do anything with a partner, or even to themselves, ever.

The Bible encourages singleness Matthew, 19:12 [1] (assuming eunuch in this verse is meant figuratively rather than literally), 1 Corinthians, 7:7-8 [2]. The Catholic Church formalised this call into compulsory celibacy for the clergy, and celibate orders of monks and nuns. Protestants have not accepted the requirement of celibacy, but many think certain people are called by God to singleness. Liberals tend to think celibacy and being single too long is unhealthy, and missing out on an important part of life — although it may be the natural choice for some people with unusually low sexual appetites (asexuality). The Bible however sees singleness as a call, not just for those with little sexual drive, but also for some who have to fight against their sexual inclinations in order to fulfil this call — some think this is the "thorn in the flesh" Paul alludes to in 2 Corinthians, 12:7-10}}. [3]

The Roman Catholic Church normally insists on priests remaining celibate, although it makes an exception for converts from Anglicanism and for the priests of the Eastern Catholic Churches. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, married men are permitted to be ordained as priests, but a single priest is not permitted to marry. In both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, bishops must be unmarried — most commonly celibates who have never married, although the Eastern Orthodox Church permits widowers to become bishops.

The Catholic Church has two different types of laws.

1. Laws which the Church believes come from God and can’t change. (For example the Roman Catholic hierarchy insists God does not want women priests though some Roman Catholics and many Protestants disagree),
2. Laws which the Church believes come from human beings within the Church and which the Church can change. (For example the requirement for priestly celibacy).

Up till now, the church hierarchy has decided that carrying on with priestly celibacy is in the best interests of the Church as a whole, even though they have allowed exemptions from it in particular circumstances. The shortage of Roman Catholic priests is so severe that priests are not available to give the last rites to the dying. For believers these rites are important because they comfort dying people and their relatives, removing the requirement for celibacy would help ease the shortage. If the RC’s were a democratic institution they would listen to the large numbers wanting change. The RC church is undemocratic and change is unlikely.

Criticism of religious celibacy

Critics of religious celibacy claim that it causes sexual disorders, including paedophilia; they see it as contributing to the many child sexual abuse scandals which have been a thorn in the side of the Catholic Church in recent years.

Can't resist temptation

Not all priests, monks and nuns have the will power to stay celibate. Some engage in what would be considered healthy relations with consenting adults. If caught, they are typically defrocked. Others, sadly, [Child sex interfere with the healthy emotional development of children they have access to. Strangely enough, when caught, these perpetrators of a terrible crime tend to keep their jobs. And their bosses who played a part in the cover up get sinecures at the Vatican as a reward.

There is a good and a a bad side to Christianity, see the category page

See also

• Church

Adapted from an out of date RationalWiki article

External links

• Here’s what a nun’s naughty bit looks like. It also features a monk with an erection. This one works as desktop background but leaves a space.
• Here’s a monk and a nun almost naked. This one is the right shape for a desktop background.

Neither are copyrighted.