Celibacy rule is harming the Catholic Church

SIR – Peter Stanford’s article (Comment, February 17) reflects the growing point of view that the disciplinary enforcement of celibacy for a priest ordained in the Roman Catholic Church is now outdated.

The Eucharist is at the heart of the Christian mission. Those called to this sacred ministry should have the choice of living either a married or celibate life. There will always be some who see celibacy as part of their calling. However, vocation to priesthood – the answering of a call to ministry – need not be associated with an altogether separate calling to the celibate life.

The time has come to revoke a discipline that has become a hindrance to vocation. It is no longer of service to the Church. The Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales needs a commission to examine how such a change might be effected. It should be set up immediately, involving clergy SIR – My father grew up in a village in Bohemia, in what is now part of the Czech Republic. In the early Twenties, the Catholic priest there was young and glamorous. He caroused with the men, skied and hiked in the mountains and was included in all social events.

He also had a young, attractive housekeeper who happened to have a young son. Everybody knew who the father was and they all lived happily ever after. To allow Catholic priests to marry will not solve all the problems of the world – but it might make a small difference in some communities.

Susan Hickmet

Rhode, Somerset