No contradiction if Church Priests get married : Pope Francis

Time to change 11^th Century rules made for Priests, he says

Pope Francis

Vatican City – The supreme pontiff of Christianity, Pope Francis, has temporarily suspended the rule of celibacy for the Church Priests. He said, “The ban was only temporary and there was also no contradiction for a priest to marry”. The news in this context has been published by the English newspaper Daily Mail. Pope Francis spoke about this in an interview with the Argentinian Daily, Infobae, according to a report. The Pope was asked about the Catholic Church’s approval of homosexual marriages in Germany and sexual abuse of children.

Pope Francis suggests he’ll review Catholic Church’s vow of celibacy for priests https://t.co/AaQa08V5oM pic.twitter.com/o2DMkt1JkJ

— New York Post (@nypost) March 13, 2023

1. Pope Francis said that the Church’s old rules regarding the celibacy of Priests will be reviewed. Furthermore, he urged the public to welcome the discussion about the change of rules in the Church. According to reports, the Pope changed the rule after Priests were accused of sexually abusing minors.

(Credit : WION)

2. The Pope further said, “It is not eternal like priestly ordination, which is forever whether you like it or not. On the other hand, celibacy is a discipline. Rules were made by keeping the financial requirements of that time in mind. At that time, it was thought that the Priests should pay more attention to the welfare of the Church”. He quoted an example of the Eastern Church, “Everyone in the Eastern Church is married, or those who want to. Before ordination, there is the choice to marry or to be celibate”.

3. Regarding the increasing divorce cases, the Pope said that hasty marriage decisions made by young people are leading to divorces.

4. According to a historian named Hilary Carey from Newcastle University, England celibacy only became a law in the 12^th Century.

5. It was a result of a power struggle between the Church and the State. By keeping the Priests celibate, it was thought, the Church could make sure its property does not get lost through marriages.