Scottish Cardinal soft on clerical celibacy
• Catholic , • Hodgepodge
I suspect the Most Rev Keith O'Brien will find himself at odds with the Vatican. Clerical celibacy wasn't canon law until the 12th century. A law often broken. Pity for the priests the church can't just admit it was a bad idea.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, the archbishop said he would uphold God's Law saying there should be no compromise on issues such as abortion. But he indicated there was room for manoeuvre on laws including the vow of priestly celibacy. He pointed to married priests in east Europe and married former Anglican priests south of the border who had converted to Catholicism.
"Basically it is accepted," he said. "It is not a matter of discussing that. In many of the eastern churches in union with Rome there is a married clergy. In England and Wales in a number of archdioceses, I can't remember how many married priests there are. It is a matter of fact."
The archbishop hinted that it was practical considerations such as housing families rather than the moral arguments that stood in the way of ending the vow.
Tom Peterkin, The Telegraph: New Cardinal welcomes debate on celibacy
Comments
Posted by: Camilo | October 15, 2003 9:32 AM