Though it might shock a few people, the time has come to properly define and recognize the badly misunderstood meaning of “celibacy.” They might be surprised to discover the true meaning in a good dictionary. I certainly was shocked to discover that “hookers” can be celibate just as long as they’re not married!
“Celibacy” and “chastity” are not synonymous terms at all. Webster defines celibate as, “one who remains unmarried, especially by vow.” In other words, an unmarried couple can have sexual relations once a night and twice on Sunday and still be celibate. But they possibly won’t be “chaste.” Webster defines chaste as, “innocent of immoral sexual intercourse” or “deliberately abstaining from sexual intercourse.”
Until now, I thought that celibate men were chaste, but I must have heard “chased” instead. Bachelors, if chased by very eager women, may do what many bachelors love to do while celibate. They may say “OK” when chased and caught by an “eager beaver,” but they must not say “I do” to remain celibate. So much for “celibacy” and un-chased, unchaste unmarried men who love little boys.
Richard G. Nobert, Morinville
