Celibacy | What You Need to Know
Priestly celibacy is a Catholic tradition which dates back to St. Paul, and which is mirrored in the similar practice of persons both lay and religious who consecrate themselves to God. Celibacy, by which a person voluntarily foregoes marriage, is a sign of commitment—of living exclusively for the Other in the service of His people.
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Essential Perspective
- The Catechism on Celibacy
- Cardinal Hummes: Christ's Precious Gift to His Church
- Paul VI: Sacerdotalis Caelibatus (The Celibacy Of The Priest)
Extra Reading
See the Dictionary entry on Celibacy for a definition and the general background of this practice pertaining to both laymen and ecclesiastics.
The comments of Fr. Benedict Groeschel, a Franciscan priest and a psychologist, are also particularly apt on this subject: Priestly and Religious Celibacy: Is it Dead or Should it Be?