Eugene Kennedy

About the author: Eugene Kennedy is a professor of psychology at Loyola University in Chicago and author of the book The Unhealed Wound: The Church and Human Sexuality.

Not unlike the choice to marry, the reasons for choosing a celibate life may be unhealthy. Research shows that many priests do not view celibacy as a virtue that they voluntarily choose but as a condition to which they must adjust. Unfortunately, immature candidates for the priesthood are not yet aware of their own sexuality and may later become confused and tortured by sexual feelings that arise once they become priests. If a priest is particularly disturbed, he may act out his sexual conflict and sexually abuse the children in his care behind the shield of celibacy.

Celibacy...