Mandatory celibacy for Catholic priests has been the norm for almost 900 years. Now the clergy sexual abuse scandal and the rapidly declining number of priests have pushed many of the faithful to the point of questioning this tradition. To this sometimes tense discussion of sex and power, priest and theologian Cozzens brings his signature calmness, his own gifted experience of celibate life, and his talent for distilling the spiritual truth of the human condition. Cozzens explores priestly celibacy as source of power and burden of obligation, as spiritual calling and gift of the Spirit. He examines the ancient and contemporary experience of married clergy in the Eastern churches and the Roman rite church. It is time, he concludes, to set celibacy free from canonical mandate to become what it is meant to be: a graced way of life for some, but not all, of the church's ordained ministers.--From publisher description.

The mystique of celibacy -- Celibacy as charism -- Celibacy as obligation -- Celibacy's exceptions -- Celibacy's shadow -- Celibacy and homosexuality -- Celibacy as power -- Celibacy as oppression -- Freeing celibacy.