Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘Irish priests could marry’ after ruling from Vatican Clergy hope over Amazon vote
A CLERGY group yesterday said it hopes a landmark move to allow priests to marry could “set a precedent” for Ireland.
Details of the decision, which would shift a nearly 1,000-year-old restriction on the practice, emerged at the weekend.
A meeting in the Vatican ruled that bishops in remote areas of South America could be allowed to wed and still be clergy members.
Fr John Collins of the Association of Catholic Priests said: “If the situation in the Amazon continues they will be facing a serious crisis as we’re talking about there not being enough priests to go around.
“And the synod is a microcosm of what will happen in many parts of the world.”
“I would presume if a precedent in one area happens it will become realistic in the rest of the Church – as we know the
Church is universal.
“I’m not saying it’ll be introduced in Ireland anytime soon but we’re hopeful.”
The decision could lead to a landmark change in the centuries-old discipline of celibacy. The
YESTERDAY
proposal, made in a final document of a three-week assembly known as a synod, passed by a vote of 128 in favour and 41 against.
But despite the role of women being discussed, only a handful were present and none were allowed a say.
Pope Francis, who has previously signalled openness on the marriage issue, will consider it.
The 82-year-old is expected to respond by the end of the year. An ACP poll in 2012 revealed almost nine in 10 Irish Catholic priests wanted to be allowed to marry. The clergy group has around 1,100 members – 30% of the priests in Ireland.
Fr Collins insisted the proposal was encouraging and a welcome development but stressed there “needs to be an awful lot more done”. He added: “Some good dialogue has taken place but it needs to include women – none were given a vote and it’s extremely sad and needs to change.”
Conservatives oppose change, fearing it would be a slippery slope leading to a married priesthood throughout the Church around the World.