Celibacy

From Wikinfo

[[de:Z�libat]] Celibacy may refer either to being unmarried or to sexual abstinence. A vow of celibacy is a promise not to enter into marriage but instead to consecrate one's life to service. Some writers prefer this usage of "celibacy", while others use it interchangeably as a synonym for abstinence.

Celibacy is required of most priests by the Roman Catholic Church. A substantial fraction of US priests believe that requirement discourages entry into the priesthood resulting in a shortage of priests in the United States.

External Links

• New York Times article, "Celibacy Issue Flares Again Within Ranks of U.S. Priesthood", Laurie Goodstein, September 5, 2003

See also:

• chastity
• asexuality

References

• Adapted from the Wikipedia article, "Celibacy" http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celibacy August 23, 2003