clerical celibacy Archives - Catholic Herald

clerical celibacy

Belgian bishops could back women deacons and ending priestly celibacy in a Church more ‘present in the digital world’

February 21, 2024

ROME – In the lead up to this year’s closing session of the Synod of Bishops on Synodality, Belgian bishops have reportedly opened a national discussion on allowing women deacons and ending the requirement of priestly celibacy. According to Belgian Catholic news site Kerknet, the Belgian bishops’ conference ahead of the October 2-27 synod happening later

Could the benefits of married Catholic clergy outweigh the costs?

January 23, 2024

Once in a while the spectre – as it is often made out to be – of allowing married priests to be ordained into the Catholic Church rears its head. We seem to be at one of those juntures again, with the Archbishop of Malta having suggested recently that it is time to end celibacy

Call for married Catholic priests will find an audience, says former Irish president

January 16, 2024

LEICESTER, United Kingdom – Mary McAleese, the former president of the Republic of Ireland, has backed calls for the Catholic Church to end priestly celibacy. Similar comments were recently made by an archbishop close to Pope Francis. McAleese, currently chancellor of Trinity University, spoke to The Irish News after Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta, who also serves

Analysis: Married priests likely to be on 2019 synod agenda

March 09, 2018

The preparatory committee includes bishops who have entertained some distinctly radical ideas

Married priests are the wrong answer to the Amazon’s problems

November 03, 2017

The practical obstacles are insurmountable. What's needed is a renewed call for missionary work

Analysis: Will the 2019 Synod discuss married priests?

October 25, 2017

Some of the Pope's most influential associates back married priests - as well as women priests