Sunday, August 24, 2025

Pope Francis suggests ordaining married men as priests

MOSCOW, March 13 (PNA/Sputnik) — Pope Francis said in an interview Thursday that the Roman Catholic Church should consider tackling its worldwide priest shortage by ordaining married men.

But loosening one of the Church’s stringent rules in a few cases could help the venerable institution come through this personnel crisis. Changing custom just a bit could allow married men who are already committed Catholics to work in rural areas where priests are in short supply.

“We must consider if viri probati is a possibility,” Francis told German newspaper Die Zeit, using the Latin phrase for men deeply involved in and demonstrably devoted to the church.

“If so, we would need to determine what tasks they can perform, for example, in remote communities.”

Over the course of his four-year papacy, the pontiff has continually demonstrated greater flexibility towards some of the Church’s thorniest modern problems. But circumstantial admission of married men as priests would be a radical departure from current Vatican teaching, and would be certain to meet strong objections from ardent conservatives.

But Francis, who referred to the vocation crisis an “enormous problem,” has noted that celibacy is not a doctrine or dogma but part of the discipline that allows a priest to dedicate himself to God and to service of the church.

He also pointed out that an element of married clergy already exists in the church, including married Anglican ministers who defected to Rome and are allowed maintain their ministries, some Coptic Catholics and members of some Eastern rite Catholic churches.

The pope so far has not been willing to entertain the possibility of ordaining women or gay men as priests to bolster the dwindling priesthood, however.

Hot this week

Wella Professionals Hair Color: The Go-To Choice for Vibrant, Long-Lasting Color

Are you ready to transform your hair into a...

Melbourne Hosts 58th ASEAN Day Networking Event

The 58th ASEAN Day Networking Event was held on...

Navigating the Startup Ecosystem: Keys to Success

The startup landscape is a dynamic and often unpredictable...

Chef Jigs Liwanag brings Filipino influence and inspiration to Ballarat’s award-winning menus

Chef Jigs Liwanag has always led with heart: first...

8 Things to Do with Your Money Before a Major Career Transition

There was a time, not too long ago, that...

Topics

Melbourne Hosts 58th ASEAN Day Networking Event

The 58th ASEAN Day Networking Event was held on...

Navigating the Startup Ecosystem: Keys to Success

The startup landscape is a dynamic and often unpredictable...

The Importance of Regular Health Monitoring for Filipino Families

Maintaining good health starts at home. And while there...

Online Credit Card Application Tips for OFWs and Seafarers

For many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and seafarers, a...

7 Trust Signals Customers Look For in Their Payment Experiences

Trust is a major factor in a customer's decision...

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_img