ment we’ve made—which is to live
as a sister, brother, or priest. We try
to develop the relationship within
the limits and responsibilities of our
commitment to celibacy.
All Christians eventually face
pain and difficulty in their lives.
It isn’t always easy to be a faithful spouse, a faithful religious, or a
single person of integrity. Dealing
with such a challenge can make us
stronger than ever in our vocation,
whatever it might be.
14. Do I have to be a virgin
to be a brother, sister, or priest?
Past sexual activity does not in itself
prevent someone from becoming a
brother, sister, or priest. A person’s
past life is not the main concern. If
it were, men and women who were
once married could not become
priests, brothers, or sisters (and
they do). The question is whether
a person is willing and able to now
live and love as a celibate in the
service of others. Some of the great
saints—Saint Augustine and Saint
Francis of Assisi for example—
made other choices before turning
to religious life.
15. Can I join a religious
community if I identify as other
than heterosexual?
Of primary concern is your ability
to live a celibate life in a healthy,
joyful, productive way. Religious
communities want incoming mem-
bers to be mature and what psy-
chologists call “sexually integrated.”
Most communities desire that their
members accept and embrace their
sexual identity and orientation as
a foundation for living the vow of
chastity.
16. Can I still be a priest, sister,
or brother if I have personal
debts?
Usually dioceses and religious
congregations require applicants
to resolve any personal debts or liabilities before entering a formation
program. Many, however, will make
exceptions for student loans and
will have specific policies regarding a plan for fair and just payment.
(See the ad on page 45 by a partner
of VISION that helps with student
debt.) If someone has a history of
excessive spending and accumulated personal debts, especially credit
card-related, the person is usually
asked to consider seriously his or
her ability to live a life of simplicity
inherent to a religious vocation.
17. Why do some sisters, brothers,
and priests wear religious clothes
while others don’t?
Those of us who wear habits or
clerical collars do so for various
reasons. One is that religious dress
is a sign that may be instantly recognized as a symbol of faith in God
and commitment to Christianity.
Another frequent rationale is that
religious clothing is simple dress
and therefore a way to live out the
vow of poverty. A sister, brother,
or priest who wears religious garb
may own a few changes of clothing
and be free of the expense of a more
contemporary wardrobe.
Some of us wear street clothes,
preferring to make our lifestyle,
rather than our clothing, our main
outward sign of faith. Some of us
feel religious clothing creates a
barrier between ourselves and others. Furthermore, those who have
discontinued wearing habits often
say the original reason for them was
to wear the dress of the common
people, and street clothes are now
the common people’s dress. =
RELATED ARTICLE:
VocationNetwork.org, “Answers to
your questions about relationships
and religious life.”
We work
at remaining faithful
to our vow of celibacy
through prayer,
closeness to Jesus, good
friendships, and healthy
physical exercise.
“
Learn more about #274 at VocationNetwork.org
Go to iwbscc.org to read our story and share yours
