Knowra Celibacy Celibacy Celibacy is the state or practice of abstaining from marriage, sexual relationships, or both. It may be chosen personally or required by a religious commitment.
Catholic priesthood : The ordained ministry of deacons, priests, and bishops in the Catholic Church. Latin-rite priests generally commit to celibacy as part of their vocation.
Buddhist monasticism : The communal religious life of Buddhist monks and nuns, typically governed by disciplinary codes. Monastic discipline makes celibacy a formal commitment for ordained members.
Sexual abstinence : Refraining from sexual activity for a period or indefinitely. Celibacy may include abstinence, though the terms do not have identical scopes.
Eastern Catholic Churches : Churches in communion with Rome that follow Eastern Christian liturgical and canonical traditions. Many permit married men to be ordained priests, unlike the usual Latin-rite rule.
Brahmacharya : An Indian religious concept encompassing disciplined conduct, with meanings that include celibacy and restraint. It connects sexual restraint with broader ideals of disciplined living.
Jain monasticism : The renunciant life of Jain monks and nuns, structured by vows and rigorous nonviolence. Jain ascetics include sexual abstinence among demanding renunciant disciplines.
Continence : Restraint from sexual activity, especially within a relationship or marriage. The distinction separates abstaining from sex from abstaining from marriage.
Eastern Orthodox Church : A communion of autocephalous Christian churches rooted in the traditions of the Eastern Roman Empire. It ordains married men as priests while reserving episcopal office to celibate clergy.
Renunciation : The deliberate giving up of worldly attachments, possessions, or social roles for religious or ethical aims. Celibacy can form one part of a wider renunciant life.
Shakers : A Christian communal movement founded in eighteenth-century England and established in the United States. Shaker communities required celibacy of members, including married converts who joined.
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