Roads diverging or roads converging? An exploration of celibacy and loneliness in the priesthood

Abstract

In order to become a priest or religious, one has to take various decisions that could affect their life trajectory. When two diverging roads are presented in front of you, what affects the decision to take one or the other, and what are the results of that choice? This study delves into the stories of priests’ celibacy. Celibacy in the Catholic priesthood, whether voluntary or involuntary, has been a point of contention for decades. Research on the intersection of celibacy and loneliness is lacking, especially in the Maltese context. Hence, this study aimed to explore whether celibacy contributes to loneliness in priests, and what other factors might be contributing to loneliness in this subset of the Maltese population, through the lens of Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) ecological systems theory. This question was explored using a mixed methods approach, however for the purpose of this paper the qualitative results will be presented. The qualitative phase involved interviews with eight priests from different orders exploring their experiences of celibacy. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to extract themes from this data. The themes highlight the joys and tribulations of celibacy, what leads to choosing the road to priesthood, issues related to stereotypes and fatherhood, and the loneliness that can come with taking the road less travelled. The difference between well-integrated and poorly integrated celibacy also emerged, and the subsequent effects that each can have on a priest’s life. The desire to marry emerged from the narratives of some priests, but not all. The findings present several implications for practice, emphasising the need for structural reforms, more open conversations, and a stronger emphasis on mental health at every stage of formation in order to decrease loneliness in priests and religious.