Wait, what? That's just a matter of opinion.

There are people who consider celibacy a positive means of helping them be closer to God by allowing them to concentrate on what for them is more important.

To those for whom religion, rather than sex or physical love, is the goal and pleasure in life, remaining celibate is a wonderful thing that has its advantages and that is a positive rather than a negative feature of their lifes.

If seen from this viewpoint, where celibacy is an aid in helping those people devote themselves completely to the service of God and others, it is a wonderful thing than can help them fullfill their deepest wishes. That is far from unhealthy.

harmful in what way? Trying to equate not having sex...with molesting a child is....a bad argument

Just because they chose to be deprived doesn't mean they aren't still being deprived. If I choose to be deprived of water, that doesn't mean it won't kill me.

Im sorry then...forgive me

It seems as if your tying to use not having sex as a.....reason for men molesting children

Hold on a second,i never said you had to accept anything.And what i said about the tribes in africa i said that i may not accept their beliefs in doing that procedure but thats their culture so i "RESPECT" it.

I fail to see how having a wife you make love to occasionally can prevent you from helping others.

Why not experience everything this life has to offer and still help people? You'd be a more complete person.

If I respect something, that means i'm accepting it as an okay thing.

See,thats the thing,you fail to see why it is necesary that they are abstince of sex because thats not your culture or beliefs,but a person of that culture and belief understands.

Can you understand the other viewpoint here:

'I have chosen to be deprived of water, and will die having made that choice. I will die knowing I chose to drink water, but that is my choice because I think it's the right one because choosing not to drink water is something I have decided is good for me. It is my choice, and you can agree or disagree with it, but I have as much a right to making my choice as you have to disapprove of it.'

Take out water, and add 'sex (or 'marriage'):

'I have chosen to be deprived of sex, and will die having made that choice. I will die knowing I chose to not to have sex, but that is my choice because I think it's the right one because choosing not to have sex is something I have decided is good for me. It is my choice, and you can agree or disagree with it, but I have as much a right to making my choice as you have to disapprove of it.'


Your view, makeshift, is no more or less valid than that of the priest. Celibacy is only wrong for you, not for him.

I can see where makeshift is coming...that celibcy can be.....bad I suppose. But in no way do I think thats one of the reason they molest children....thats actually...one of the most asinine things I have ever heard

I completely understand the other viewpoints.

I just don't think I should have to respect something I view as harmful.

you may see celibacy can be bad but me and other devout catholics do not because we have a diffrence of opinion.I see it as a way to be closer to god.

Nobody is forcing you to respect it,we are just stating our diffrence of opinions.

Maybe I am wrong...but are you guys really trying to say a priest not being able to have sex is a....reason why they molest young boys?

For the priest, your view is harmful. Since celibacy is meant to bring him closer to God, disposing of it might potentially be of harm. Is it really? Probably not, but that's a matter of belief. It's intensely subjective. In the Anglican Church, you can get married, and for those who think that getting married will not harm them in achieving their unity with God, that's fine. For those who think celibacy is essential and/or good in helping them be closer to God, marriage is not a good idea, and might be seen as harmful.

Not me. I said it's only a factor if the boy/girl is raped because the priest can't have sex otherwise. But if the priest is a pedophile, celibabacy doesn't matter; they'll go on raping boys if the opportunity presents itself no matter what.

=D> =D>

Some people talk as if that were the case.I remember a report on pdophile priests on CNN and they had these anti-celibacy non catholics on there saying that the catholic church should take away that rule because its one of the problems with priests who molest children.I got angry,because it isnt that law that is the reason these atrocoties have happened,its because these guys are pedophiles and the church wrongly turned a blind eye to this.What they should have been claiming was for the church to have an inmense backround check of the men applying to be priests and a Psycological examination.

Well they are fuckin ignorant.....A pedophile is a pedohile regardless if he has 100 women to have sex with a night

@Box: did my clarification help?

@Makeshift: I practiced celibacy for a long time. I still believe in it.

ooooooo baba...."practiced?" :wink: ----as in....past tense? :wink:

sigh .. yes.

lol/....dont beat yourself up over it .(no pun intended)

Your answer won't change the way I feel about this subject because I think that when religion is involved people will convince themselves into thinking things that aren't true, but would you say you are happier with your life now or when you were celibate? Try and forget about things like bills and school or what have you, and just about your general happiness.

Ok makeshift...I can understand your position that celibacy can be somewhat harmful...Im with ya there.
But do you really believe that is a reason priests molest little boys?