Pope Francis: Priestly Celibacy A Tradition, But Not Set In Stone

Pope Francis revealed that the Catholic Church might sooner or later contemplate jettisoning its ban on clergymen marrying, calling the custom of celibacy for clergymen “temporary.”

In accordance with the Code of Canon Legislation of the Catholic Church, “Clerics are obliged to observe perfect and perpetual continence for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven, and are therefore bound to celibacy. Celibacy is a special gift of God by which sacred ministers can more easily remain close to Christ with an undivided heart, and can dedicate themselves more freely to the service of God and their neighbor.”

“There is no contradiction for a priest to marry,” Francis, 86, advised the Argentine publication Infobae. “Celibacy in the western Church is a temporary prescription. I do not know if it is settled in one way or another, but it is temporary in this sense. … It is not eternal like priestly ordination, which is forever whether you like it or not. On the other hand, celibacy is a discipline.”

Requested if celibacy might be reviewed, Francis referenced the Jap Church, declaring, “Yes, yes, In fact, everyone in the Eastern Church is married, or those who want to. There they make a choice. Before ordination there is the choice to marry or to be celibate,” in line with a transcript offered by Infobae.

In 2019, Francis supplied a barely totally different view of clergymen’ vow of celibacy, asserting, “Personally, I think that celibacy is a gift to the Church. I would say that I do not agree with allowing optional celibacy, no.” Though Francis mentioned exceptions might be made for married clergy within the Latin ceremony “when there is a pastoral necessity” in distant areas, he additionally quoted Pope Paul VI saying: “I prefer to give my life before changing the law of celibacy.”

As early as 1,800 years in the past, the Synod of Elvira said, “It is decided that marriage be altogether prohibited to bishops, priests, and deacons, or to all clerics placed in the ministry, and that they keep away from their wives and not beget children; whoever does this shall be deprived of the honor of the clerical office.”

The Vatican acknowledges, “It is clear from the New Testament that at least the Apostle Peter had been married, and that bishops, presbyters and deacons of the Primitive Church were often family men.”

The First Lateran Council (1123) “made into general law the prohibition of cohabiting with wives,” the Vatican notes.

“From Pope Francis: Priestly Celibacy A Custom, However Not Set In Stone“

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