an appreciation of human sexuality in all its multiple dimensions, so that a student experiences his sexuality as a positive gift rather than as a dangerous power to be feared, denied, suppressed, or controlled rather than channeled... Sexuality carries within it deep possibilities for health and hurt, virtue and sin. Celibates must face these real issues both intellectually and experientially if they are to be successful in their lives and ministries for the church (Nugent, 2000, p. 72).
However, when we examine the formation programmes in seminaries and other formation communities we notice that formation to affective and sexual maturity rarely receives the attention it deserves. Although the situation has improved in the recent years what Sipe observed some years ago continues to be true to a great extent. He wrote: "No seminary teaches celibacy/sexuality adequately. Most training programs value and foster naivete and sexual immaturity" (1995, p. 46).