An archbishop viewed as a major ally of Pope Francis has called for the end to the discipline of priestly celibacy in the Catholic Church.
Maltese Archbishop Charles Scicluna said the time was ripe “to discuss the issue seriously” – and to give priests the choice to marry.
“This is probably the first time I’m saying it publicly and it will sound heretical to some people,” said the Canadian-born archbishop. “Why should we lose a young man who would have made a fine priest, just because he wanted to get married? And we did lose good priests just because they chose marriage.”
Archbishop Scicluna, 64, continued: “It was optional for the first millennium of the Church’s existence and it should become optional again.
“A man may mature, engage in relationships, love a woman. As it stands, he must choose between her and priesthood, and some priests cope with that by secretly engaging in sentimental relationships.”
He highlighted that some priests go on to father children by their mistresses, adding: “This is a global reality – it doesn’t just happen in Malta.
“We know there are priests around the world who also have children and I think there are ones in Malta who may have too.”
Archbishop Scicluna is known as a loyal confidante of Pope Francis, and his intervention will be interpreted by some Vatican observers as reflective of the thinking of the Holy Father.
An adjunct secretary of the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith, Scicluna emerged as a prominent defender of Amoris Laetitia – the 2016 post-synodal apostolic exhortation by Pope Francis addressing the pastoral care of families – taking a stance against criticism of the text for allowing divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Holy Communion.
The apostolic exhortation on the family was implemented with a highly liberal interpretation within his own Archdiocese of Malta.
Scicluna made his remarks about priestly celibacy in an interview with The Times of Malta, declaring his view that the Church should now “take decisions on it”.
The issue of priestly celibacy came to the fore in 2019 when delegates at the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazonian Region voted for a change in the celibacy rule to allow married men to serve as priests in remote areas.
Amid the ensuing controversy, Pope Francis resisted inaugurating any change at that time. He has indicated, however, that he does not see celibacy as an essential characteristic of the priesthood.
The celibacy rule is a discipline rather than a doctrine and can be legitimately changed by a reigning pontiff.
Already, married priests are permitted to minister in the Church if they have converted from a denomination which permits clergy to have spouses.
The Code of Canon Law forbids marriage after ordination, however, while candidates for the priesthood are drawn exclusively from celibate men.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a life of celibacy allows priests to “consecrate themselves with undivided heart to the Lord and to the affairs of the Lord…they give themselves entirely to God and men”.
It continues: “Celibacy is a sign of this new life to the service of which the Church’s minister is consecrated. Accepted with a joyous heart celibacy radiantly proclaims the reign of God.”
The Eastern Orthodox Church permits priests as well as deacons to marry but selects bishops solely from those who are celibate.
Celibacy differs from chastity because it means to abstain from marriage and sexual relations completely.
Chastity – which the Church teaches that all the baptised are called to – means abstinence from sexual relations outside of marriage and the practice of fidelity within marriage.
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