Ok honestly (this may be a dumb question), I was just having this discussion with a friend...if a girl has already had sex but then decides she wants to be a nun, can she still be one? I'm thinking yes but I have no idea
2006-08-14 06:45:34 · 35 answers · asked by Maria 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
How do you solve a problem like Maria????
You should know Fraulein!
2006-08-14 06:50:49 · answer #1 · answered by Gypsie 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
It's not a dumb question at all; it's a very good question, in fact.
The answer is, no -- you do not have to be virgin to become a nun.
You have to live a celibate life once you become a nun, of course -- but what you've done in the past is water under the bridge at that point.
I'm sure there are plenty of women who have become nuns, even if they'd had sex before.
The most important thing is not what a person has done in the past. The important thing is what the person is doing now, and what he/she will do in the future.
Last year I was accepted into a religious order of nuns (I ended up not joining, but I was accepted) at age 40.
At age 17 I had a baby (who was placed for adoption). I did not hide this fact while I was going through the interview process, and I was accepted anyway.
Having had sex earlier in life is not an automatic barrier to the Catholic priesthood or religious life.
Of course, the person's ability to live a celibate life will be probed as much as possible -- but that's done for everybody, whether they're a virgin or not.
2006-08-14 06:57:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
No.
I do not know about these days, but in historical times widows sometimes became nuns, in which case they could have had a number of children.
The important issue is that the nun must obey the vow of chastity she takes when she enters the order.
2006-08-14 06:57:26 · answer #3 · answered by Philosophical Fred 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She can, but she can no longer have sex once she has joined the Sisterhood and for as long as she wears the habit.
In centuries past, many women joined the Sisterhood and became a Bride of Christ, often for a number of reasons - they stood to inherit nothing; they had been raped (sadly, this was a very common consequence, but at least the woman was allowed to live); or they otherwise had some sort of illicit affair or other, and the family could no longer, erm, betrothe her to another.
But no, becoming a nun is not just for virgins.
However, it is a very serious decision to make for any woman.
2006-08-14 07:56:39 · answer #4 · answered by fiat_knox 4 · 10⤊ 0⤋
You cannot be married or have dependant children if you want to become a nun. And you must be Catholic.
Can you be a nun if you're divorced?
2006-08-14 07:03:09 · answer #5 · answered by Lotus Phoenix 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's more of a "Once you become a nun, you never have sex again" sort of thing. I'm pretty sure non-virgins can become priests too.
2006-08-14 06:52:16 · answer #6 · answered by Girl Wonder 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, you can still become a nun. You just cant have sex AFTER you become a nun.
2006-08-14 06:50:24 · answer #7 · answered by Kutekymmee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A woman can still be a nun if she isn't a virgin.
2006-08-14 06:50:47 · answer #8 · answered by mynx326 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No you dont have to be a virgin to become a nun.
2006-08-14 06:51:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
They do not have to be Virgins, but once a Nun no more
2006-08-14 06:50:57 · answer #10 · answered by Quantrill 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm assuming you mean a catholic nun.
no, a girl doesn't have to be a virgin, but it makes it a lot easier--i mean, if you're a nun, you can't look at or think about, uhm, guys for the rest of your life. it's hard if you're not a virgin.
2006-08-14 06:52:01 · answer #11 · answered by frances.bacon&eggs 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋