Celibacy
From Encyclopedia of Sex and Sexuality
Throughout history there have been groups of men and women who have adopted celibacy—agreeing not to marry, and by implication, not to have sexual intercourse. The Roman Catholic priesthood is made up of men who are forbidden to marry. There are also, within the Catholic religion, orders of monks and nuns devoted to a life of worship without priestly status or function, who live under rules of celibacy.
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[edit] Religious Celibacy
[edit] Anglican
In the Anglican Church, although priestly celibacy is not the rule, some individual priests impose it on themselves; there are also celibate orders of Anglican monks and nuns. In the Greek Orthodox and other Eastern churches, priests may marry—except for those looking to being raised to the rank of bishop, since bishops in those churches may not be married. At times the Catholic Church has found reasons to tolerate married clergy. Among the Roman Catholic clergy are a few married priests, among them members of the Protestant clergy who have been converted and who, though married, wanted to be ordained as Catholic priests. This dispensation has also been given to Eastern rite clergy in certain circumstances.
[edit] Catholicism
Catholic canon law regarding priestly celibacy has a stormy history. Many early Christians, laymen as well as priests, believed that marrying was pointless because the end of the world was at hand. Soon there would be the final judgment, and after that, no more marriage. Not everyone was of this mind, however, and there were also Christians who got married, among them many priests. In one area it would be the custom for priests to marry, elsewhere various rules about priestly celibacy were enforced. Some men became priests after marriage, and were not told to put their wives aside. Others were permitted to stay married but were not supposed to have sex. In the fourth century stronger rules were put into effect but they did not remain in force. Finally, in the twelfth century, the Church outlawed married priests and the rules now in effect were established—but they, too, were much flouted during the Renaissance. In response to the Protestant Reformation the embattled Church tightened its rules; they have remained much the same since that time.
[edit] Pre-Christian
Celibacy is a practice that can be traced back to ancient pre-Christian religions. The priests of certain deities were required to be totally devoted to their religious roles; no interest in sex or in any mortal human being could come between them and their gods. This was especially true for the priests of female deities such as the Egyptian Great Mother Isis. A priest stood apart from other believers and mediated between them and the deity. Similarly, the modern Catholic priest stands at the altar between God and God’s children. To perform the priestly offices he must be qualified and ritually pure, and his celibacy is believed to contribute to these conditions.
In pre-Christian times, related types of celibacy were practiced. Philosophers such as Epictetus advocated celibacy as helpful on the way to wisdom and serenity. Through celibacy, he held, one learns to ignore the promptings of appetite and avoids responsibilities to spouse and children. Celibacy has also been practiced by ascetics seeking to prevent sensual contamination of the ideas they espouse.
In popular imagination, cerebral brilliance is often linked with celibacy—as with Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot, the perennially popular fictional detectives. In real life, people commonly practice celibacy while enmeshed in work, in pursuit of higher education or professional training, or while establishing a business or a career. This kind of celibacy may mean abstinence from marriage rather than from sexual gratification (for example, masturbation may still be practiced)—but individual celibacy combined with chastity is not unknown.
[edit] Judaism
Jewish tradition has no celibate priesthood. Traditional Jews certainly discourage celibacy and encourage marrying and having children. Rabbis especially are expected to be models as husbands and fathers.
[edit] Eastern Religions
Eastern religions have some celibate traditions. The first Buddhists were a celibate male order. As the faith spread, its celibate aspect dwindled away. In many of the monasteries young men joined for short terms, usually a year. Some solitary holy men still practice celibacy, along with other self-deprivations. Taoism and Shintoism have disposed of celibacy in their monastic orders.
