Bishops call for married priests in the Amazon

ROME — Roman Catholic bishops from across the Amazon recommended Saturday to allow married deacons to become priests — a proposal intended to address a severe priest shortage in the region, but also one that breaks from centuries of church tradition.

The document by the Vatican gathering — which still needs to be affirmed by Pope Francis — offers a significant shift in church views and could potentially signal a new strategy to modernize key tenets of Catholic tradition, such a priestly celibacy, as the church faces a worldwide decline in vocations.

The proposal, proponents say, would be narrowly applied to permit only selected men ordained as deacons to become priests. The gathering, however, stopped short of fully endorsing calls to allow women as deacons, an ecclesiastical position that can preside over some rites, such as witness marriages, but cannot celebrate Mass.

The bishops instead urged the Vatican to reopen debate on ordaining women as deacons — an appeal quickly backed by Francis.

For Francis, the first South American pontiff, the proposals for the ordination of married men are certain to bring fresh strains within the church. Catholic conservatives have been at odds with the Argentine pope over his broad outreach, including to divorced and remarried Catholics.

But there is little disagreement over the church’s challenges in the vast Amazon region. Priest shortages are so acute that some Catholics are left effectively on their own. At the same time, evangelical denominations are an increasing force across all of Latin America and siphon off more Catholics each year.

“Many of the ecclesial communities of the Amazonian territory have enormous difficulties in accessing the Eucharist,” the bishops said, citing the celebration of the Mass. “Sometimes it takes not just months but even several years before a priest can return to a community to celebrate the Eucharist.”

The three-week synod was convened to discuss a broad range of issues facing the Amazon region and South America, including the church’s role in helping preserve the rainforest. But it was the proposals on the priesthood and women’s role in the clergy that drew the most attention.

Backers of opening the priesthood to married deacons say it’s imperative to keep the church relevant in the Amazon. Conservative critics assailed the plan as potentially opening the door to the end of celibacy and married priests in other parts of the world facing a similar shortage in priests.

The measure, approved 128-41, now goes to Francis, who is expected to decide whether he will follow it by the end of the year.

If he does, it will address some problems — but exacerbate others.

Since Francis succeeded a far more conservative Benedict XVI, the Vatican has been increasingly consumed by culture wars between traditionalists and progressives.

The proposals also come a time of crisis for the church after decades of abuse scandals and, in Latin America and Africa, added pressure from powerful evangelical movements.

These tensions are particularly acute in Brazil, a country long tethered to the rhythms of Catholic life but now being reshaped by evangelicalism. Catholics, who once accounted for more than 90 percent of the population, are not even expected to be half by 2022, according to recent research.