1.   I had always wondered why the Catholic Church insists on celibacy vows for its clergy.

2.   But his call came amid increasing evidence of broken celibacy vows and the unprecedented reception into the Roman Catholic Church in England of married former Anglican priests.

3.   Moreover, by treating homosexual acts as an abomination and the breaking of celibacy vows as shameful, the church has scared priests into silence, some say.

4.   Scholars say the problem of priests violating their celibacy vows with adult women appears to be more significant than clergy sexual abuse of children in Africa.

5.   The Vatican has not suggested new ordination regulations to respond to violations of celibacy vows by heterosexual priests.

6.   But many of them favor a more liberal course than the pope, who is against birth control and any relaxation of the celibacy vows for priests.

7.   But many of them favor a more liberal course than the traditionalist pope, who is against birth control and any relaxation of the celibacy vows for Catholic priests.

8.   He said this was not likely to happen under Pope John Paul II, who strongly opposes dropping celibacy vows.

9.   This gave out annual prizes to groups such as women affected by celibacy vows.