Cardinal says synod won't propose married priests, women deacons

Published: 2005-10-18

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Ordaining married men and women deacons will not be options proposed by the Oct. 2-23 Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist as ways to solve the problem of priestless parishes, said an African cardinal. Cardinal Peter Turkson of Cape Coast, Ghana, said the synod has recognized that the shortage of priests is a problem "and the fathers are looking for different solutions to it." But while the suggestion by some synod members to allow for the ordination of married men of proven virtue has been listened to, it is being shelved for the time being, the cardinal said. Synod participants from the Eastern churches that have married priests "are advising us a lot on this" question, he said at an Oct. 18 press briefing. But the prevailing feeling of the majority of the voting members is "let's keep (the idea of married priests) on the shelf awhile," perhaps for further study or consideration, he said. The overall opinion is "let's exhaust the other possibilities first before we come to this," he added.

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