How can I elaborate Catholic Theology of Sexuality? (particularly celibacy)?

Question

please help me...i'm writing a paper that's gonna be my exam as well.. our prof gave us the book Eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven(Church Fathers Till Augustine article) to brood on... i don't know how to start and it's to be passed on August 28!gosh! please help...=p

Answer 1

First, Judeo-Christian tradition has always held that single people be celibate. This is taught by Judaism and Christianity from before the Scriptures were written down.

The question should be: Why can't priests marry?

This idea of a celibate clergy came from the Jews, John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Apostle Paul.

The Jews. The Talmud argues that a person whose “soul is bound up with the Torah and is constantly occupied with it” may remain celibate (Maimonides, Laws of Marriage 15.3). For example, Yahweh ordered the prophet Jeremiah not to marry (Jeremiah 16:1-4). Moreover, the Essenes was a group that was active in Jesus’ time that practiced celibacy and thought by most scholars to be the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

John the Baptist and Jesus are both believed to have been celibate for their entire lives. Some scholars believe that the example of the Essenes influenced either or both Jesus and John the Baptist in their celibacy.

The Apostle Paul is explicit about his celibacy (see 1 Cor. 7). There is also evidence in the gospel of Matthew for the practice of celibacy among at least some early Christians, in the famous passage about becoming “eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:12).

The concept took many twists and turns over the years and will probably take a few more before Christ returns in glory.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

--Is Catholic--

A bit late on starting the paper huh? I would suggest sitting down and reading LOVE AND RESPONSIBILITY by WOJTYLA if you had the time. Also if you can get a hold of it PURITY : THE MYSTERY OF CHRISTIAN SEXUALITY by DIETRICH von HILDEBRAND (also goes by IN DEFENSE OF PURITY). If you have a good enough theology/philosophy section in your college library, you should be able to find it. These are upper level books.

Since you are pressed for time I would suggest quickly going over
http://www.scripturecatholic.com/the_priesthood.html#priesthood-IV
http://www.catholic.com/chastity/chastity_questions.asp
http://www.catholic.com/chastity/pure_love.asp

These are quite easy and do not take much to understand so they will save you time.

Answer 3

For general policy towards sex:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03637d.htm

For celibacy:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03481a.htm


But the Catholic position on sex is pretty straightforward: sex is for marriage and having babies, so all sex outside of marriage (or which deliberately prevents having babies) is sinful. Hence, all single Catholics are expected to be chaste (see the article on chastity) and abstinent.

Priests are not only expected to remain chaste, but by voluntarily taking vows of celibacy, they vow never to get married. As a result, all sex by priests is considered sinful (since they are unable to do so within the confines of marriage and procreation).

Answer 4

If you wish check "Theology of Body". It is a school of theology that rediscovers the value and beauty of our body following the teachings of JP II, our beloeved Pope R.I.P.

It helped me a lot.
Cheers

Answer 5

celibacy should be practised from birth til marriage. From there, make up for lost time and make more catholics.