“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Priestly celibacy, some say, is an outdated relic from another age.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.