Pope calls Curia to discuss married priests, Archbishop Milingo

Published: 2006-11-14

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI has convened top Vatican officials to discuss the case of excommunicated Zambian Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo and the status of married priests around the world. The Vatican press office said the pope asked heads of major Roman Curia agencies to meet with him Nov. 16 to examine the situation created by the "disobedience" of Archbishop Milingo, who recently ordained four married men as bishops without papal permission. The Vatican statement said the meeting would reflect on requests made by married priests in recent years for dispensation from the obligation of celibacy and on requests for readmission to the priestly ministry. The Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, later said he did not expect the discussions to consider major changes in the priestly celibacy rule. When ordained, Catholic priests in the Latin church make a promise of celibacy. In Eastern-rite Catholic churches, married men may become priests, but are not allowed to marry after ordination.

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