What about the saints (many) who remained celibate or left their spouses to join a convent or monastery. Most of this happened after the other spouse’s death — but not always. Of course, the person entering the religious life had the consent of their spouse (and in some cases — children)
“But ye know that the ministerial office must be kept pure and unspotted, and must not be defiled by conjugal intercourse; ye know this, I say, who have received the gifts of the sacred ministry, with pure bodies, and unspoilt modesty, and without ever having enjoyed conjugal intercourse. I am mentioning this, because in some out-of-the-way places, when they enter on the ministry, or even when they become priests, they have begotten children.”
Bk 1, 258.
Conjugal intercourse a defilement? How sick is that?