Some bishops say church must reconsider role for married priests

Published: 2005-10-07

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A lack of priests coupled with people's great need for spiritual nourishment must prompt the church to be open to considering a role for married priests in the life of the church, said some members of the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist. Coadjutor Bishop Arnold Orowae of Wabag, Papua New Guinea, told synod participants that Catholics who live in remote villages did not have "the opportunity for frequent celebration and reception of the Eucharist." In his speech Oct. 6, he asked how these communities would then be able to make the Eucharist the source and summit of their lives as the church asks, according to information released by the Vatican. He said the church needs to reflect on "what kind of priest" they need in their situation, and he asked the church to consider allowing the ordination of "mature Christian men who are strong in faith, very committed, and have the respect of the people." Often times these so-called "viri probati," or "men of proven virtue," are older, married men. He said these men could "be easily trained to preside at the eucharistic celebration" which would then "make it easy for the people to participate in the Eucharist, so that the importance and centrality of the Eucharist" would "become true for the people."

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