“The Church today demands a profound renewal of celibate priesthood and the fatherhood to which it is ordered.” Priestly celibacy, some say, is an outdated relic from another age. Others see it as a lonely way of life. But as Fr. Carter Griffin argues in Why Celibacy?: Reclaiming the Fatherhood of the Priest, the ancient practice of celibacy, when lived well, helps a priest exercise his spiritual fatherhood joyfully and fruitfully. Along the way, Griffin explores: the question of optional celibacy some pitfalls of celibate paternity the selection and formation of candidates for celibate priesthood why biological fathers are also called to spiritual fatherhood the powerful impact of celibacy on the Church and the wider culture In a critical moment for the Catholic priesthood, Fr. Griffin brings light and hope with a new perspective on the Church’s perennial wisdom on celibacy.

"The recent sex abuse scandals in the Catholic Church raised new questions about the abilities of a celibate priesthood to deal realistically with matters of sexuality. Critics and journalists who have examined these scandals have called for an end to mandatory celibacy for priests." "In this overview, Phipps points out that "mandatory celibacy is relatively new-fangled, having appeared during the last half of the church's existence. The innovation was imposed in the feudal and crusading era, a dark period for the Church."" "In order to provide this survey, Phipps probes ancient religious texts and church history and uses studies that provide factual assessments of the general individual and cultural consequences of celibacy. He avoids anecdotal evidence about celibacy and offers a balanced exploration by allowing celibate advocates and church representatives to speak in their own voices about these matters."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

For an educated, general readership and for use in college courses, this text introduces the role of celibacy, or a lack of it, in various religious traditions, and the contributors present the rationale for its observance (or not) within the context of each tradition.

The insistence on clerical celibacy was established in much of the Western Church beginning in the Fourth Century. It expanded slowly and unevenly throughout Late Antiquity and the early middle ages and at the Second Lateran Council in 1139 became Church Law. This Law of Celibacy decreed that Holy Orders were a absolute impediment to any in the higher clerical orders attempting to contract marriage. Any such marriage was automatically null and void in the eyes of the Church.

The debate over clerical celibacy and marriage had its origins in the early Christian centuries, and is still very much alive in the modern church. The content and form of controversy have remained remarkably consistent, but each era has selected and shaped the sources that underpin its narrative, and imbued an ancient issue with an immediacy and relevance. The basic question of whether, and why, continence should be demanded of those who serve at the altar has never gone away, but the implications of that question, and of the answers given, have changed with each generation. In this reassessment of the history of sacerdotal celibacy, Helen Parish examines the emergence and evolution of the celibate priesthood in the Latin church, and the challenges posed to this model of the ministry in the era of the Protestant Reformation. Celibacy was, and is, intensely personal, but also polemical, institutional, and historical. Clerical celibacy acquired theological, moral, and confessional meanings in the writings of its critics and defenders, and its place in the life of the church continues to be defined in relation to broader debates over Scripture, apostolic tradition, ecclesiastical history, and papal authority. Highlighting continuity and change in attitudes to priestly celibacy, Helen Parish reveals that the implications of celibacy and marriage for the priesthood reach deep into the history, traditions, and understanding of the church.

Sex & Celibacy is a 180-page ebook about my celibacy journey. I share not only my experiences and advice, but also include the accounts and important warnings of the celibates of the past who were occultists, spiritual teachers, writers, inventors, artists, and more. This ebook was first released in May 2015. It was fully revised and updated in May 2016, with my new experiences and newly-found genuine accounts of yet more celibates, especially saints. Seven reasons why I wrote this ebook 1.) I’ve decided to share my celibacy journey so that it serves as a source of inspiration for current celibates to continue walking this road; 2.) So that it serves as a source of information for those who are thinking about this lifestyle and want to find out what they can expect from it. 3.) Over the years of my spiritual journey, I have come across many incorrect accounts in regard to celibacy, like in patriarchal religious texts of the East which probably suffered additions like the Bible did. (These distortions about sex and celibacy especially target women, so I consider it my responsibility to dispel all these falsities through revealing my first-hand experience on the matter, as well as quoting reliable sources that support my experiences and thus prove them to be genuine.) 4.) I’ve also written this ebook to at least to some extent remove the repulsion about the word “celibacy”, since many practice celibacy when they’re totally not ready for it and thus truly misguide others about this lifestyle (such as priests that have no choice about the matter). Because of this, indulgence in sense-pleasures is chosen over celibacy, which serves to stall the spiritual development of a human that’s not ready. 5.) When one becomes interested in such a road, usually he is exposed to age-old religious teachings that were copied and distorted throughout the ages by those who weren’t celibates or practiced celibacy for all the wrong reasons (thus not being able to receive any celibacy benefits). Reading such texts and looking at the lives of such people only serves to misguide and off-put a would-be celibate. So usually a conclusion is arrived at that celibacy is a road to misery. In truth, it’s a road to total freedom and bliss, and you’ll think this way too after reading the book. 6.) Not only most people practice celibacy for all the wrong reasons, but they don’t even know how to practice it. As a result, sexual impulses are not transformed into spiritual ones, but suppressed instead. This, with time, results in uncontrollable anger outbursts, addictions, perversions of all sorts, or mental imbalances. In the Sex & Celibacy book, you’ll read about how to transmute the energy of sex to experience celibacy blessings such as higher intelligence and spiritual growth. 7.) Finally, I felt it necessary to share my celibacy experiences because the female take on celibacy is almost non-existent. Though somewhat distorted, Vedic and Taoist sources still serve as a source of inspiration and information for men. But many of such accounts are in no way helpful to women, and, as I mention in the book, can even stop their spiritual progress, since some of the teachings are clearly anti-female. So I consider it essential to share my celibacy experiences as a woman. To follow the road of celibacy successfully, as well as to gain spiritual blessings, two essential rules must be met: You must be ready to follow such a path (most people aren’t). You must practice celibacy correctly (most people don’t). This ebook explains in detail about how to meet both of these requirements. Here’s what Sex & Celibacy ebook covers: Celibacy benefits Celibacy dangers Things you must know before becoming celibate Who shouldn’t practice celibacy How to practice celibacy correctly What is real celibacy, and what isn’t (most people claiming to be celibates aren’t) Church misunderstanding of celibacy and a resulting disaster What takes place spiritually during the act of sex Lost information on conception: exact days conception and delivery should occur for a developed soul to enter this dimension Immaculate conception Spirit possession during sex Astral body dangers for celibates Creative power of celibates and how not to misuse it Signs showing that you should become celibate What Jesus really says about celibacy What happens to the energy body during celibacy What happens to the energy body during sex Hidden teachings on celibacy and sex in books such as the Bible and A Course in Miracles How luciferian forces operate in the human body and why How luciferian forces penetrated the human body The real function of the astral body and astral realms Sex – and attempt to escape from the background of pain What you should know about masturbation An easy yogic method to maintain celibacy My diary entries concerning sex and celibacy Conquering the serpent of lust Two alternative roads (for those who find celibacy too difficult) Misunderstood unconditional love … And so much more! I sincerely believe that this ebook contains all you need to know about celibacy. It explains what dangers you need to be aware of on this road, what kind of blessings you’ll experience if you follow this road correctly, how to practice celibacy in the right way, as well as who should practice celibacy and who isn’t yet ready. What’s more, not only will this ebook fully inform you about this unusual, yet bliss-filled lifestyle, but it will also open your eyes to the true nature of sex.

In this survey of ministry in the church, Paul Bernier offers a comprehensive, engaging perspective on the development of Christian ministry. He shows how this development came about in response to specific social or cultural needs, and discourages placing blame for practices promulgated in good faith and for the common good. Bernier takes a broad look at both lay and ordained ministry, writing that ministry is "the service God requires of all the baptized." He focuses quite sharply, nevertheless, on the role of the ordained minister, past, present, and future, and looks closely at what future developments in the church might bring, based on lessons of the past. This book well illustrates the fluidity and form of Christian ministry, and its place both in and outside the institutional Church. It is an excellent resource for adult education, as well as for pastoral ministers seeking to broaden their understanding of their roles. Ministry in the Church is filled with information and inspiration; it opens exciting new vistas for Christian living today.

Keeping it real: Which brings us to the purpose of this Book; it is designed to give you a way to escape the pressures of being teenagers and young adults and to be a part of a community of LOVE and SUPPORT. To help you as young people make decisions, build character, strength, and your purpose.Most of all to help you get what you need to succeed and in the process have Peace and GREAT JOY.