Pope: we may let married men be priests

THE Pope has requested a debate over allowing married men to become priests in the Amazon region of Brazil, in a move that is likely to outrage conservatives in the Church.

Pope Francis is to put a partial lifting of priestly celibacy up for discussion and a possible vote by Brazilian bishops after a request by Cardinal Claudio Hummes, president of the episcopal commission for the Amazon, sources told Il Messaggero newspaper.

Cardinal Hummes reportedly asked the Pope to consider ordaining viri probati, married men of great faith, capable of ministering in the Amazon where there is a shortage of priests and where evangelical Christians and pagan sects are displacing Catholicism.

The request was echoed by Monsignor Erwin Krautler, secretary of the episcopal commission, who also suggested female deacons could be priests.

In the Amazon region, there is just one priest for every 10,000 Catholics.