Issue of married Catholic priests gains traction… Opening the priesthood to married men, even in limited and localized places, would open the question of providing financially for the priests' families
VATICAN CITY (AP) — As the Vatican copes with the growing clergy sex abuse scandal and declining number of priests worldwide, it is laying the groundwork to open formal debate on an issue that has long been taboo: opening up the priesthood to married men in parts of the world where clergy are scarce. Pope Francis has convened a meeting of South American bishops next year focusing on the plight of the church in the Amazon, a vast territory served by far too few priests. During that synod, the question of ordaining married men of proven virtue — so-called "viri probati" — is expected to figure on the agenda. This week, a two-hour documentary on Italian television is likely to contribute to the conversation. "The Choice: Priests and Love" profiles more than a dozen men in four European countries who are either living clandestinely with women, have created their own unsanctioned church communities where married priests preside at Mass, or left the Catholic priesthood altogether to marry.
The documentary, to be aired Wednesday on Discovery Italia and previewed to The Associated Press, makes the case that many of these men would gladly return to the priesthood and offer their pastoral services. Their plight has found a sympathetic ear in Francis, who has long expressed a willingness to consider "viri probati" to address pastoral needs in the Amazon. He has also expressed sympathy for priests who have made the anguished choice to leave. Vocatio, an Italian association of these "married priests," wrote Francis earlier this month pledging their solidarity as he copes with the global fallout of the sex abuse scandal, and once again offering their services in ministry. "We would like you to take into consideration — without prejudice or pretense — the opportunity of allowing us an active presence in diocesan activity, given our experience and competence in the sacraments we have lived: ministry and matrimony," the group wrote.
Only took generations and thousands of abused kids for them to think about it.
Aaron Howard
...
Joshua Parker
lel desperate. instead of maybe fixing their church they just change the rules
exactly, Freudian bullshit
Wyatt Taylor
Celibacy does lead to pedophilia if you're doing it out of mandated customs instead of your own will to fulfill your responsibility. However, priests are expected to have a strong sense of responsibility in the first place. If they don't, they're supposed to quit.
Isaiah Walker
What I don't get is why are these priests still insist on being priests despite their lack of volition for that job. It's hard to be a priest, they could have a successful career if they put that effort into jobs that actually make money. If they want to marry, why don't they just marry and quit?
Daniel Long
If you can't handle celibacy, and God bless those who can, it can lead to all manner of horrid things.
Charles Hall
Sacred tradition tells us that Christ told the apostles after his ressurection to create a celibate priesthood.
If celibacy leads to pedophilia that must mean all christian men are pedophiles until they get married
Christopher Green
Where does 'sacred tradition' say this?
Juan Collins
What's even worse is fellow Christians propogating this to attack a church they dont like, especially when St. Paul said celibacy is the preferable option
This is the most brainlet post Ive ever seen
Hunter Nelson
There is canons from the first seven ecumenical councils (accepted by both Catholics and Orthodox) allowing for married men to become priests, but forbidding men who are already priests from marrying.
I understand why the secular news don't realise that those are two separate issues, but it confuses me as to why none of the anons on here have twigged to it.
The Catholics very rarely ordain married men (they do occasionally do so apparently), but they could without violating the canons, but "re-ordaining" someone who left the clergy to marry is a quite different story.
Sebastian Davis
Someone explain this verse away.
1 Timothy 3:5 2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
Asher Torres
We know celibacy do not lead to pedophilia, it's actually homosexuality. However I would be in favour to at least a temporary exception permitting married priests, to keep homosexuals away.
Carson Jackson
Do you not realize how you sound?
Celibacy has been around for years and it has never been a problem. It still isn't: If a problem pops up 1000+ years after something is mandated, then its nearly impossible that the mandate is the cause of it. Your short sighted attempt to attack the Catholic Church's tradition is having the end result of throwing away attention that could be going to homosexuality and pedophilia. Nice "good fruits" you have here.
Bentley Martinez
Nice, nice, very nice. Personal attacks are the highest form of argument indeed.
Now answer the question brainboy.
Leo Lee
Should have stopped reading right here.
Aaron Jones
Well I think that you should face defeat with dignity.
Lincoln Cruz
You first. Don't lose your cool on the way.
Gavin Rivera
Rly makes me think.
Kayden Miller
This is what you are saying.
Angel Hill
indeed. Married priests or no is its own question, but mending broken vows is quite another. These dubious priests are ahead of themselves in thinking to not only come into the fold without penance but gain a position of leadership after the fact.
Crazy that no one is responding to this one… I honestly have wondered why Catholics even HAVE any restrictions on priests marrying in the first place given verses like that.
Benjamin Hall
They don't want to marry at all. They're homosexuals.
