“The Church today demands a profound renewal of celibate priesthood and the fatherhood to which it is ordered.”
Priestly celibacy, some say, is an outdated relic from another age. Others see it as a lonely way of life.
But as Fr. Carter Griffin argues in Why Celibacy?: Reclaiming the Fatherhood of the Priest, the ancient practice of celibacy, when lived well, helps a priest exercise his spiritual fatherhood joyfully and fruitfully. Along the way, Griffin explores:
- the question of optional celibacy
- some pitfalls of celibate paternity
- the selection and formation of candidates for celibate priesthood
- why biological fathers are also called to spiritual fatherhood
- the powerful impact of celibacy on the Church and the wider culture
In a critical moment for the Catholic priesthood, Fr. Griffin brings light and hope with a new perspective on the Church’s perennial wisdom on celibacy.
About the Author
Fr. Carter Griffin is a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington. A graduate of Princeton University and a former line officer in the United States Navy, he obtained his doctorate in theology from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. After serving at St. Peter’s parish on Capitol Hill, in 2011 he was assigned to the newly-established St. John Paul II Seminary in Washington, D.C., where he now serves as rector. He is the author of Why Celibacy?: Reclaiming the Fatherhood of the Priest.
What People Are Saying
Reviews
A brilliant book on the spiritual paternity of the priest. This book discusses the role of celibacy in the priesthood, and shows how celibacy is a means for the priest to give himself totally to the Church, and to God's people. Highly recommend for all priests and seminarians!
