<p>It might seem like a somewhat unusual topic, but what do you think about people who are not Catholic priests, who are not monks or nuns, who nonetheless of their own free will choose to be celibate for life? Especially ones who are reasonably attractive, healthy, and such, and who could marry and/or have sexual relationships, yet who choose not to for personal reasons that may or may not be tied in with their religious beliefs and with what they feel God's call is for their lives.</p>
<p>Do you know anyone like that? Do you think it's unusual or not so unusual for someone like that to choose lifelong celibacy?</p>
<p>can you be considered "healthy" if you deny sexual desires for your whole life? that person would have to be uncomfortable with their sexuality, viewing it as something unclean and indulgent, instead of something normal and natural</p>
<p>so no, you can't be healthy and choose celibacy for life out of non-religious reasons. it implies a certain point of view that is unhealthy</p>
<p>Hmm..honestly, I don't think celibacy is something God ever asks for. If anything, I would think God would want His followers to find someone to love and be with. Celibacy, by the way, is not mentioned in the Bible (correct me if I'm wrong) and was initiated by the Catholic Church.</p>
<p>"Celibacy, by the way, is not mentioned in the Bible (correct me if I'm wrong) and was initiated by the Catholic Church."</p>
<p>In his first letter to the Church at Corinth (1 Corinthians), one of the founding Catholic communities, Saint Paul encourages people to live a celibate life if it is within their desire/ability to do so. His rationale was that celibacy, if one is graced with the ability, can uncomplicate ones life and bring them closer to God. Some people can do it -- that is, have been graced by God with the ability to live out the single/celibate vocation -- and others cannot. Those who can are probably called to be priests, like Paul; those who cannot are likely called to the married life.</p>
<p>**I say this by way of concession, not of command. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own special gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain single as I do. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.<a href="1%20Cor%207:6-9;%20%5Bi%5DRevised%20Standard%20Version%5B/i%5D">/B</a></p>
<p>One important thing to note is that, despite popular assumption to the contrary, the priestly celibacy rule in the Roman Catholic Church is not written in stone. It has been around for a long time, yes, but it could also change at any time -- it is not a doctrine of faith. There are several Rites within the Catholic Church that allow priests to be married and raise their own families. Eastern Rites, such as the Assyrian Catholic Church, the Ukrainian Catholic Church, the Byzantine Catholic Church, and the Syro-Malankarese Catholic Church (among many others), all allow priests to marry.</p>
<p>The Roman Catholic Church, while being the Catholic Church's central and biggest Rite, is just one Rite of 22 across the world. Thus, if you are a young Catholic man who strongly feels that he is called to both the priestly vocation and the married vocation, nothing is stopping you from becoming a priest in one of the many Eastern Rites within the Catholic Church. (Those churches need priests in a big way, too.)</p>
<p>Maybe it's nature's subtle way of weeding out a potential failed genetic pattern? Since this celibate person wouldn't reproduce, the line he/she is carrying would eventually cease to exist. Natural eugenics? I dunno.</p>
<p><strong><em>Puts on fireproof suit in anticipation of flaming</em></strong></p>
<p>I wouldn't really care if anyone does celibate/doesn't.
I for myself, wouldn't do so but what ever others want let them do. Saying simply: I wouldn't talk to celibated person differently than I would to uncelibated (pardon my poor Anglais por favor).</p>