Some of you make recall my previous admission to prudery and whilst browsing the virtual shelves I recently discovered – or perhaps became aware of – another, which, if you hadn’t already guessed from the image, has to do with romantic fiction featuring a priest, reverend, etc as the main love interest.
This actually surprised me because I wouldn’t describe myself as being a very religious person; I’m agnostic if anything, yet I seem to avoid these stories like the plague.
I think a subconscious part of me sees the word ‘priest’ and automatically thinks of chastity and of celibacy and is, well, a bit squicked out by the entire concept of a relationship which will impact these vows.
Yes, I know there are different religions which allow the leaders of their faith to marry. And, yes, I know that some people, for various reasons, return to ‘civilian’ life so to speak.
I also understand the fantasy of this kind of romance. Let’s be honest, there’s a certain amount of titillation involved and I myself have enjoyed several stories on the them. (No Fear In Love by Jamie Craig immediately springs to mind.)
Yet, there is this part of me which always hesitates.
As I write this it occurs to me that maybe this issue I have does actually have to do with my previous post. That is, perhaps I see it as a type of unfaithfulness??
*shrugs*
Anyway, I thought I’d share this insight into the weird and wonderful ways my mind works and open the topic up to your thoughts.
Kris + Books = Good. *Sometimes*. 
Kris,
My favourite book of all time… The Fancy Dancer by Patricia Nell Warren. About a priest and a rebel. (not a very happy tale but honest andwell worth the read)
tish
Oh yeah… there is… what do you guys call it? smexing? but it's not graphic. It's more like T&D where you know theres sex and it's goooood but you don't need to 'see' it. Be warned it was written in the 70's so not a condom in sight.
Hmm. I've read stories about non-Catholic …. shit, what are they called? Ministers I guess? I don't have a problem with it as long as it's allowed in their dogma. I likely would feel squicked reading about a Catholic priest. (Thank you JCP for blowing my socks off at the end of that short story.)
There have been way too many news stories lately about Catholic priests abusing children, arrested for child porn, etc. that it just seems to make them unlikely heroes in a love story (adult of course). And it is cheating I guess. You take a vow then you keep it. Quit and then screw the guy.
Not sure it's the prude in me or just no interest. Being atheist I have no real interest in organized religion, it doesn't resonate with me, so it's kind of a non-issue but I still respect what they do/are and I don't want to see a Catholic priest screwing someone in the confessional no matter how porny/kinky it sounds. Two non-clergy in the confessional I can get behind.
They should keep Catholic priests out of romance novels. They have no place there.
Unlike other churchy men who are allowed to marry.
But still I am not too fond of books with religion in them. It's just not my type of thing.
Tish, I just went and had a look at 'Fancy Dancer' online. It looks interesting, but I think the priest thing would really, well, squick me.
Tam: I think I feel a bit the same. I have a great deal of respect for religious faith in general (not the 'us and them' or abusive versions of it though) and I have enjoyed books that explore and challenge beliefs; however, the breaking of vows is just a step too far for me. As you say, leave the church and then fuck to your hearts content, but not the other way around.
Ingrid: I agree.
“But still I am not too fond of books with religion in them. It's just not my type of thing.”
For me, it depends on the way the issue is handled. Some stories work really well for me and others don't.
One book that I thought was very, very good was J D Robb's 'Salvation In Death'. I thought that was a fascinating exploration of murder, revenge and the confessional within the context of the Catholic Church.
Y'all really need to see the British film Priest. Seriously. It's heart-wrenching and gut-wrenching and absolutely beautiful. Without a doubt one of my all-time favorite movies.
Wow. Have to admit, KZ, that movie looks pretty awesome.
I just don't find priests (catholic priests that is) sexy at all. Never seen one in my life that you could call attractive, let alone gorgeous. They're usually old and not in a very good shape. Shit, now I have a porny version of Ratzinger's stuck on my mind. Nooooo! How can I fall asleep now?!? I'll have nightmares for sure O_O
Sorry Sara! The Vatican actually put out a sexy priest calendar recently, which I found when looking for images for this post. If you google it, it might help you get rid of your nightmares.
Thanks Kris! I needed the distraction…
Mhhh… do they keep them hidden in the Vatican for nefarious purposes, I wonder? Because I've never seen that kind of priests. Maybe if I did I would have become a believer after all. *g*
It shocked the heck out of me too, Sara. All I could think of was that there must be a whole heap of girls and gay guys attending services. LOL.
Good point Kris. And yes, it does involve the breaking of a vow.
Y'all really need to see the British film Priest.
K.Z. – you bet me too it đŸ™‚ The Priest is the first thing i thought of when I read Kris' post. Kris – what K.Z. said đŸ™‚ It's a movie that takes you through a whole spectrum of emotions… I really want to see it again now đŸ™‚
Orannia, yes, and, given my feelings about the infidelity theme (ie I fucking hate it), I think that's why the potential breaking of religious vows puts me off.
Oh yes! Priest is a great film. Linus and Robert lovin' it up….. sunny days all the way. It is an emotional rollercoaster of a film that should have been blockbuster. In my opinon (which counts for squat) it was so much better than Brokeback.
tish
Kris,
Does the leederville cinema still exist? (on Beaufort ST) It use to show some the great gay films ever. I saw Preist there and also my fav film Just a question of love. (french film) Oh the French make some of the best gay films ever.
tish
Yep, that cinema still exists, Tish. I haven;t been there for years so I'm not sure about the kind of films it shows now.
For me, books that involve clergy as the male lead are often preachy and I don't want that in my romance. I can read a book on religion -and do, but I find for me, I don't want it in my romance.
:o)
MsM
I just don't want to read about priests or ministers or anything even remotely like that. Growing up in a religious (not zealots, mind you) household it just completely squicks me out. I'll have to check out this calender cuz I work in a church (the priest's a woman) and having been to the Los Angeles diocese I still haven't seen a priest good looking enough to be on a calendar! lol
I'm with Tracy and Ingrid. It just doesn't interest me.
Having said that I enjoyed reading the Seeds of Time series by GS Wiley where one of the characters was an Anglican vicar. It didn't skimp on the troubled feelings of the vicar, James, but with it being a time-travel as well the decision became more 'can I live in this time zone' rather than 'can I be a homosexual minister'.
MsM: I know what you mean. I think that is a trap that a number of stories can fall in to and is also one of the reasons why many readers have been put off having these type of characters in their fiction, especially in romance.
Tracy: My Dad and his family are Catholic and the Bearded Baby Brother went to a Catholic school. It is because of these associations that I think the priest as a love interest thing squicks me out too.
Jen: I can see how time travel might outweigh being a gay Anglican priest. *snort*
Kris,
RE a previous post…. when is SK going to tell about the smexing? Or did I miss it by being a good mum and taking the ankle biters to school:)
tish
Shit. I forgot, which is pretty strange for me since I adore annoying Sean so. *writes a note to self* Will get to it asap.
Thanks for the reminder, Tish!
I just left a really long post about someone having his corset laced a bit tight and something about blue mesh panties… and finding out about how filthy some minds really are but thought better of it hehehehehe. As I am STILL waiting for my T&D postcard. So I thought I'd be polite and ask if I'd missed anything. Should have gone with the first post LOL!
I'm with you on the infedility scheme – my bug bear too!
Tish, you should've done. It could have been seriously fun. LOL.
Orannia: You and me both, mate.
I was raised in a conservative Christian household (and I still hold onto my beliefs), and I avoid sexually explicit books about priests and other religious leaders. I find it–I dunno–not “gross,” but sort of disrespectful, I guess.
I don't really have a problem with other people reading (or writing) them; I just don't feel right about reading them myself.
(Are you shocked that I'm conservative? :D)
Jen: “Are you shocked that I'm conservative?”
*muttersnotwhenIknowsomuchaboutotherwaysyouarenotmutters*
Not really, especially given my own hesitation about this kind of storyline. I think you hit it in a word with the word disrespectful. That's how it seems to me too and why it is so difficult for me to put this gut feeling to one side.