When a member of a religious order takes vows of celibate chastity, poverty, and obedience, are these vows binding forever?
A vow is a formal promise made to God. In a religious order, the vows are public, accepted in the name of the Church. Members of secular institutes make either private vows or profess the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Both public and private vows are binding on the person making the vow unless the obligation is suspended by a person having power over the matter (such as the pope, a bishop, or a religious superior).
