Vatican denies debate over celibacy
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The Vatican is denying that the publication of the apostolic constitution, a document directed at Anglicans seeking to convert to Catholicism, is being delayed because of an internal debate over priestly celibacy.
The Vatican clarification confirmed that married former Anglican ministers would be admitted to priestly ministry, as an exception from canon law on a case-by-case basis.
This already was the Church’s policy, but I wonder will they be more lenient, and what about those who aren’t yet married but are considering the priesthood?
According to the story, married Anglican seminarians would also be allowed to be ordained.
This seems to be opening the door wider than I had anticipated, but it’s difficult to tell until the document is released later this week.
CNS adds…
It said the question of married seminarians was considered “purely speculative,” and that criteria for a dispensation from celibacy would have to be worked out jointly by the personal ordinariate and the local bishops’ conference, and would be submitted for approval by the Vatican.
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As far as I understood as a lifelong Catholic schoolgirl, it was the whole sticky wicket of apostolic succession that allowed ordained, married Anglican priests to stay priests after converting to Catholicism. Do you think married seminarians (a.k.a. priests in training) actually have a shot at the same thing, before they’re ordained?
I don’t know. This whole thing seems to be a slippery slope. The Catholic Church will no doubt try to direct this invitation to conservative Anglicans very carefully, but nevertheless, it seems to be opening the door even wider for men to be married, priests, and part of the Catholic Church, all at the same time — especially if seminarians, too, are allowed this loophole. But I’m not sure this is the case, but it’ll definitely be one of the first pieces of information I search for when the document is finally released.
In response to another comment. See in context »