The British newspaper, The Telegraph, reported today that Pope Francis has opened the way for a discussion of clerical celibacy at the upcoming Synod on the Amazon.
Pope Francis has requested a debate over allowing married men in the Amazon region of Brazil to become priests, in a controversial move that is likely to outrage conservatives in the Church, Vatican sources say.
The pontiff took the decision to put a partial lifting of priestly celibacy up for discussion and a possible vote by Brazilian bishops following a request made by Cardinal Claudio Hummes, the president ofย the Episcopal Commission for the Amazon,ย Il Messaggero newspaper quoted the sources saying.
This would reverse expectations ofย Mauricio Lรณpez, Executive Secretary of REPAM, the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network, who commented only a few days ago that priestly celibacyย โis not for us to discuss, or even comment on.โ
Cardinal Hummes made the request in response to the acute priest shortage.
You can read the whole story here.
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