Brazilian Cardinal calls for married priests

[katy]

He is the head of something in Rome and is calling for “moderniizing”, I think, by having married priests. I read about it this morning in our daily paper. I can probably get a link if I have to, but wonder if anyone else has seen this. It doesn’t seem consistent with B16’s general agenda. Anybody know what’s up?

 

[Genesis315]

Anyone who uses the term “modernize” in regards to the Church should be excimmunicated.

 

[Evangel]

From the Vatican Info Service:

DECLARATION OF CARDINAL HUMMES ON PRIESTLY CELIBACY

VATICAN CITY, DEC 4, 2006 (VIS) - Given below is the text of a declaration made today by Cardinal Claudio Hummes O.F.M., prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, concerning his comments on priestly celibacy that appeared on the pages of “Estado de Sao Paolo,” a Brazilian newspaper.

"On the subject of the echoes provoked by my words as reported by the newspaper ‘Estado de Sao Paulo,’ I would like to specify the following:

"In the Church it has always been clear that priests’ obligation to celibacy is not a dogma but a disciplinary norm. Indeed, it is valid for the Latin Church but not for the oriental rites where, even in communities united to the Catholic Church, it is normal for there to be married priests.

"Yet it is also clear that the norm prescribing celibacy for priests in the Latin Church is very ancient and is founded upon consolidated tradition and upon strong motivations, both theological-spiritual and practical-pastoral, as reiterated also by Popes.

"Even during the recent Synod on priests, the most widespread opinion among the fathers was that a relaxation of the rule of celibacy would not be a solution even to the problem of the lack of vocations, which is, rather, to be linked to other causes, in the first place the modern culture of secularization. This is clear also from the experience of other Christian confessions that have married priests and pastors.

“This question is not, then, currently on the order of the day for the ecclesial authorities, as was recently reiterated following the latest meeting of heads of dicastery with the Holy Father.”

…/PRIESTLY CELIBACY/HUMMES VIS 061204 (280)

I’ve included the whole statement as I don’t see the material on the VIS site. If anyone is interested, I can forward the VIS e-mail to you.

 

[Evangel]

And here is an AP news report published in the secular UK press about the Brazilian article:

Influential cardinal says priests should marry
Associated Press

SAO PAULO, Brazil — An influential Brazilian cardinal says the Roman Catholic Church should reconsider its ban on allowing priests to marry.

Cardinal Claudio Hummes, who was recently named to head the Vatican’s office in charge of priests around the world, made the comment about two weeks after the Holy See reaffirmed the requirement of celibacy for priests.

Article link:
theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061203.wpriestss1203/BNStory/International/home

Who wants to bet the secular press will print the clarification?

 

[Riley259]

From the Vatican Info Service:

I’ve included the whole statement as I don’t see the material on the VIS site. If anyone is interested, I can forward the VIS e-mail to you.

I originally saw this story in the very liberal Boston Globe this morning. Let’s see if they print what you just posted above - my guess is that we won’t hear from them.