Chastity is another central tenet of the Jesuit lifestyle, and Martin explains its benefits in his book.<\/p>\n
“Chastity is not for everyone and most people tend to define it negatively,” he says. “I.e., chastity means not having sex. But I define it positively, and I say that chastity means loving many people very deeply and very freely. And people feel free with a person who’s chaste, really. Because they know that you’re not being friends with them or being close to them for sex.”<\/p>\n
But celibacy has taken a hit in recent years, as reports of priests sexually assaulting children came out. Martin says he doesn’t see a connection between the two.<\/p>\n
“I would say that that’s more related to people who are psychologically unhealthy and also, bishops who have moved priests around \u201d\u201d that’s not directly related to chastity,” Martin says. “I don’t think \u201d\u201d celibacy and chastity do not cause pedophilia. No more than \u201d\u201d most sexual abuse goes on in families, no more than marriage causes sexual abuse.”<\/p>\n