Xt3 Podcast: Celibacy and the Priesthood - an Inside Account

As a follow up to Fr Michael's interview on Celibacy and the Priesthood, this talk addresses the myth that Paedophilia and Celibacy are linked, as has been reported in the media.

In our sex-saturated culture, celibacy is difficult to understand, let alone live. Here, Fr Michael honestly recounts the challenges of being celibate. 1. What are the negatives/challenges involved in being celibate? 2. Are you lonely? 3. Do you miss female company? 4. Was it difficult to give up the idea of having a wife and children? 5. Most men seem to have the inherent desire to be a husband and a father - where is your outlet for those feelings/desires? 6. Does being celibate make it difficult to control your sexuality? Where or what is the outlet for your sexuality? 7. Do you think it should be a personal choice to be celibate or should the Church require it? 8. Do you have female friends to talk to or is that too tempting? 9. What would happen if you met a girl you liked, or fell in love? What would you do? 10. Does celibacy get easier as time goes on? 11. Do you think celibacy is a cause of sin? Are men putting themselves unnecessarily in the way of temptation rather than allowing themselves to marry and enjoy sex?

In this section, Xt3 goes into the practical side of living a celibate life. Fr Michael is incredibly honest in his answers to the questions below. 1. What is your daily life like as a celibate priest? How would it be different if you were married? 2. If you were allowed to get married, would you? Why or why not? 3. Did you choose to be a celibate priest because you didn't meet a girl that you wanted to marry? 4. What are the benefits of being celibate? 5. how does being celibate benefit your relationship with God? 6. How important is community to your life of celibacy? 7. How did your formation prepare you to be celibate? 8. How does not being married mean you relate to female members of the Church in your ministry? Do you relate better or worse than them?

Is celibacy behind the times, in a culture obsessed with sex? Why is it so important to the priesthood? What does the Scripture say about it? In this section, Fr Michael gives us the framework of understanding celibacy by answering the following questions: 1. Why did you choose a celibate life? 2. Why did you choose to be a celibate man rather than pursue another kind of ministry? 3. Why do you think the Catholic Church embraces celibacy as a lifestyle?