Editing Roll of Celibates

{{Status|Canon}}
The '''Roll of Celibates''' was a collection of [[San'Shyuum]] who were not permitted to breed under [[Covenant]] law to ensure genetic diversity was maintained in the San'Shyuum community on [[High Charity]]. Created to prevent negative recessive genes from passing down to new generations of San'Shyuum, the Roll of Celibates was zealously maintained to ensure the gene pool of the low San'Shyuum population on High Charity was healthy.<ref name="ch264">''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'', p. 264-265</ref><ref name="bc58">''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]'', p. 58-59</ref>

==Description==
[[File:H2ATruth2.png|thumb|250px|The High Prophet of Truth was included on the Roll of Celibates]]
Due to the [[San'Shyuum]]'s moderately low population on [[High Charity]], the Roll of Celibates tracked those who were not allowed to breed, as the poor planning of their ancestors made their genes too common, and the risk of spreading their negative, recessive genes was already too high.{{Ref/Reuse|ch264}} The Roll of Celibates was carefully controlled by a strict bureaucracy to ensure genetic diversity was maintained among the San'Shyuum community.<ref name="enc">''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', p. 125 (2011)</ref> The San'Shyuum who enforced the Roll were zealous in their work, and not even a [[Hierarch]] was above their censure.{{Ref/Reuse|ch264}} When a San'Shyuum was being considered for the Roll, it was difficult to petition against it and even those who were successful could just as easily be added back to the Roll.{{Ref/Reuse|bc58}}<ref name="bc69">''Halo: Broken Circle'', p. 69-71</ref> Once a San'Shyuum was placed on the Roll of Celibates, it was impossible to be removed.<ref name="soi28">''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]'', p. 28 (Google Play edition)</ref>

While celibate, those on the Roll were not sterilized and may engage in sexual activity provided that any resulting offspring were subsequently aborted. However, if any children were born of such a union, they were put to death, the offending San'Shyuum parent dismissed from any office they held and likely even sterilized.{{Ref/Reuse|ch264}} Although it prevented birth defects, the Roll was responsible for reducing the initial San'Shyuum population on High Charity.<ref name="bc73">''Halo: Broken Circle'', p. 73</ref>

==History==
The Roll of Celibates was established at some point after the [[Reformists]] left [[Janjur Qom]] aboard the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]]. As they numbered barely above one thousand and those San'Shyuum had a tendency to pass down negative genes among themselves, the Roll was created to maintain San'Shyuum diversity.{{Ref/Reuse|bc58}}{{Ref/Reuse|enc}} At the time of its creation, it was difficult to stay off the Roll of Celibates.{{Ref/Reuse|bc58}}

With the founding of the [[Covenant]], the short-lived [[Ministry of Anticipatory Security]] was informed whenever a San'Shyuum consulted the [[High Charity]] medical interface about pregnancy, allegedly to help manage the Roll of Celibates.{{Ref/Reuse|bc69}} The [[Mken 'Scre'ah'ben|Prophet of Inner Conviction]] was once considered for the Roll of Celibates, though he managed to remove himself from review by speaking to the San'Shyuum that headed the Roll and pleading his case.{{Ref/Reuse|bc58}} Inner Conviction's removal from the Roll formed several controversies, with some San'Shyuum believed that he had bribed the Roll's workers to earn his clearance. The [[R'Noh Custo|Minister of Anticipatory Security]] threatened to use his new-found influence to place Inner Conviction back on the Roll, unless he complied to lead [[Mission to Janjur Qom|a mission]] to Janjur Qom to retrieve more female San'Shyuum; Inner Conviction reluctantly accepted.{{Ref/Reuse|bc73}}

In the waning days of the [[Ages of Doubt|23rd Age of Doubt]], the [[High Prophet of Restraint]] impregnated a young female San'Shyuum, having lied to her about his place on the Roll. Furious, the first-time mother demanded to keep her brood. The aging High Prophet, overcome by a desire to see his exalted genes passed down, could not bring himself to have his unborn progeny aborted or the mother silenced. Learning of the scandal, the [[Minister of Fortitude]] had the [[Vice Minister of Tranquility]] give an impassioned speech during the [[birthing period]]'s invocation before the [[High Council]], arguing for a greater investment in gene therapies and other technologies to "end the tyranny of the Roll". Believing he had common cause with the [[vice minister]], Restraint approached him and offered the vice minister a ministerial posting of his choice if the Vice Minister of Tranquility claimed Restraint's child as his own. However, the vice minister used the scandal to blackmail Restraint to step down from his position, giving the Minister of Fortitude and Vice Minister of Tranquility the opportunity to ascend to the office of Hierarch.{{Ref/Reuse|ch264}}

During the [[Ninth Age of Reclamation]], the [[Ministry of Preparation]] utilized the [[Forerunner]] machines of the [[Sacred Promissory]] to alter the genes of San'Shyuum on the Roll of Celibates, allowing them to petition for their removal from the Roll.{{Ref/Reuse|soi28}}

==Notable celibates==
*[[Mken 'Scre'ah'ben|Prophet of Inner Conviction]], a [[Minister (title)|Minister]] of [[Ministry of Relic Safety|Relic Safety]], considered though removed from the Roll.{{Ref/Reuse|bc58}}
*[[High Prophet of Restraint]], a former [[Prelate of High Charity]] and [[Hierarch]].{{Ref/Reuse|ch264}}
*[[High Prophet of Truth]], a former [[Minister (title)|Minister of Fortitude]] and Hierarch.{{Ref/Reuse|ch264}}
*[[Tem'Bhetek]], a [[Prelate]] of the [[Ministry of Preparation]], removed from the Roll.{{Ref/Reuse|soi28}}

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]''

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

[[Category:San'Shyuum culture]]