The Commitment of Celibacy When people talk about priesthood as a way of life, the conversation always comes around, sooner or later, to the question of celibacy. There is no shortage of books and articles about celibacy, and I have no intention of adding another one. I would like to offer a few thoughts on some of the questions about celibacy which come up most frequently. The word celibate means unmarried.
People remain unmarried for various reasons, and sometimes, indeed, for no reason in particular.
Priests and deacons make a commitment to remain unmarried for the sake of the kingdom of God . It is true that priests are busy, but lots of other people are busy too. Many of these busy people are also good husbands and wives, fathers or mothers. It is also true, that many journalists, politicians, and doctors will say that their professional commitments can make it very difficult to have a normal family life. In reality, the reasons for celibacy are more symbolic than practical.