Why Do Priest Not Have Sex

[Guest Mystery]

Some one asked me why if the church is having so many problems, why don't they let priest have sex. Now I know why but don't know how to explain it. Thanks for the help.
-Mstry-

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='Mystery' date='May 19 2004, 06:24 PM'] Some one asked me why if the church is having so many problems, why don't they let priest have sex. Now I know why but don't know how to explain it. Thanks for the help.
-Mstry- [/quote]
The question is not why priests cannot have sex, but why priests cannot marry, because sex without love is meaningless, and love that is not sacramental is empty.

When one is called to the priesthood they know what they are doing, and realize that they are being called to live a life of chaste celibacy. Now the problem is that many look upon priests as giving something up, or denying themselves sex. It is a very shallow viewpoint to look upon the priesthood as merely a renunciation of sex and nothing more. For a priest is called to celibacy, knows that is part of the call, and rather than giving something up, is giving something back. He is freely choosing to give his sexuality to God, it is the gift that God gave him to share with his wife, and to partake in the creation of another human being. Understand though the priest does not cease to be a sexual person, for sexuality is a part of human existence, rather, he has chosen to allow God to show him how best to live his life without a spouse and children in the physical sense. For God calls the priest to be a husband to the Church and a Father to the people of that Church, it is more universal than individual.

As a holy priest once said, when we choose to live celibacy we choose to go to the edge of the cliff and trust that when we make that leap, God will show us what to do. Celibacy requires faith. Everyone believes it to be easy if priests are married and maybe so, but what does that do the priesthood? A priest is called to live a life of service and sacrifice, how is a priest an Alter Christos if he cannot even trust in what God has called him to?

The act of sex is a physical expression of a spouses love for the other person, the priests act of love is to lay down his life for his friends, to live as another Christ, to be both priest and victim, making intercession always for the other person. The priest is called to a different kind of love, more sacrificial in nature. A spouse is called to the same, but the consummation for the priest is in the consecration of the bread and wine, something only a priest can do.

God Bless