Message #450

[AndyHB]

I don't think that society does feel that Andy.  Some people do feel unfulfilled if they never marry, but society, in my experience, nowadays is not too bothered whether someone has a partner of not.

What society generally would see as wrong, in my experience of people's views, is the stipulation that to do the job of a priest, the person must be male and celibate.  I have to say I agree with society on that one.

I would disagree on both scores, Martin.  Advertising, magazines, etc. are predicated on people having sexual intercourse as standard.  I'm not talking about having a partner or not, I'm talking about having a sexual relationship - and that might be for a night, an hour, whatever.

As for the second paragraph, I don't think people are worried about whether a cleric is celibate or not; rather they are concerned that they are not abusing their position of authority/leadership, regardless of whether they are in a sexual relationship or not.