Clergy Quote by Carl Sagan

The church may hold whatever it holds with regard to clerical celibacy.

— William P. Leahy

Priestly celibacy has been guarded by the Church for centuries as a brilliant jewel, and retains its value undiminished even in our time when…

— Pope Paul VI

Jesus Christ never preached there should be celibate priests. The only reason the church has this is because it's a mechanism of power and…

— Alex Gibney

If, hypothetically, Western Catholicism were to review the issue of celibacy, I think it would do so for cultural reasons, not so much as…

— Pope Francis

I don't think anybody should be celibate - and that goes for priests as well as nuns. I don't even like to alter a…

— Madalyn Murray O'Hair

Solitude, community, and ministry are certainly not just for celibates! Celibates also have a hard time keeping up.

— Henri Nouwen

The truly longstanding tradition in the church is that some are called to celibacy. Some feel called to it. But the church has never…

— Gene Robinson

Almost every one of the great religions of the world has made special provisions for them, and the woman who has preferred a celibate…

— Mary Livermore

How deep a wound to morals and social purity has that accursed article of the celibacy of the clergy been! Even the best and…

— Samuel Taylor Coleridge

I think all priests should be married.

— Denis Leary

That clerical celibacy doesn't guarantee asceticism is obvious, any more than attending Mass guarantees prayerfulness (trust me on that one). But it preserves the…

— Ross Douthat

Everyone agrees the celibacy rule is just a Church law dating from the 11th century, not a divine command.

— Hans Kung