The New Murrey and Blue blog

This is an article about the Templars. Its sub-heading is Silent meals, a buddy system, and wine ‘in moderation‘. All very well and good, bon appetit and so on, but celibacy was mandatory. Why?

Was a life of so-called chastity really necessary? I say this of the Church in general, and any other religion/organisation that demands this sacrifice. Was a man less of a man because he had a wife/mistress/lover? I don’t think so. Was a widower who became a priest sub-standard because he’d once been married? I think not. In fact, such priests would be far better qualified to give advice on life than someone who didn’t know one end of a woman from the other.

So I’m afraid that I have no time at all for this aspect of the Church. It was conceived by misogynists who were afraid of women. Or men who were incapable of the sexual act and had to be avenged. Sorry, but the whole thing is ridiculous in my eyes, and I feel so strongly that I doubt if anyone will ever change my mind.

If a man (or woman) chooses, quite voluntarily, to be celibate, that’s one thing. But being compelled to be so is wrong. In my eyes anyway.