'celibacy' is a perfectly correct and usable word in written English
You can use it to refer to the state of not being married or not having sexual relations. For example, "Renouncing his former lifestyle, he chose to embrace celibacy and devote himself to spiritual pursuits."
In the late 18th century, these two aristocratic Irish ladies, after several attempts (including one dressed as men), escaped on a boat for Britain, hunting, though they were only young, for "a life of sweet and delicious retirement" dedicated to "friendship, celibacy and the knitting of stockings", wrote Sir Walter Scott.
It is not, as Pope Benedict rightly argued in yesterday's distressingly bland pastoral letter, about priestly celibacy.
It's as if he's channeling one of those early Church Fathers who went overboard trying to justify celibacy: Tertullian, maybe, who said a woman was "a temple built over a sewer".
In particular, he singled out a reported remark on priestly celibacy and the comment relating to cardinals being among the church's paedophiles.
Alexander, who ostentatiously and frequently broke his vow of celibacy, ensured Cesare became a bishop when he was just 15 and a cardinal when he was 18. Cesare became a politician and a warlord, and was suspected of the murders of several members of his own family.
This came at a time of growing discussion of priests, celibacy, sex and hypocrisy.
The answer in Francis Fukuyama's stimulating new book is that celibacy was one of several important reforms, instituted by Pope Gregory VII, which resulted in the development of canon law and the notion that even kings were subject to it.
Scandals over child-abuse are seen by some as an unpleasant side-effect of priestly celibacy; and they have certainly reduced the prestige of the priesthood as a calling even in relatively devout countries like Ireland.
Its misdeeds, it says, have nothing to do with religion or celibacy; in a permissive society, secular educators also commit them.
Both are leading candidates to succeed Benedict and are on opposite sides in a vital debate: whether the church's sex-abuse woes stem chiefly from structural problems in the church, such as (implicitly) priestly celibacy, or from sinfulness (which is Benedict's position).While that smoulders at the top, another row is flaring at the grassroots.
He is rightly cross with the way the church has handled the scandals that arise from broken vows of celibacy: pregnant nuns, ill-treated housekeeper-concubines, altar boys used as catamites.
