Breaking Tradition: Archbishop Charles Scicluna’s Surprising Suggestion
Vatican Official. So, there’s a bit of a stir in the Vatican – Archbishop Charles Scicluna, a big-shot in the Pope’s advisory crew, dropped a bombshell. He thinks it might be time to rethink the whole celibacy thing for Catholic priests. Now, that’s got some eyebrows raising and others shaking their heads, calling it “heretical.”
Scicluna’s Take: Time to Rethink Celibacy?
Archbishop Scicluna, based in the Vatican’s doctrinal office, spilled the beans in an interview with the Times of Malta. He straight-up said, “If it were up to me, I would revise the requirement that priests have to be celibate.” Whoa, right?
He acknowledges that some top-notch priests have chosen marriage over the celibacy gig, and the Church lost them. According to him, priests sometimes fall in love, and it’s a tough choice between love and vocation. Some priests go the secret route with sentimental relationships, he spilled.
But here’s the kicker – Scicluna knows this is a bold move. He dropped the “H” word, saying, “This is probably the first time I’m saying it publicly, and it will sound heretical to some people.” Talk about throwing tradition for a loop!
Mixed Signals from Pope Francis: To Marry or Not to Marry?
Now, Pope Francis has been playing with mixed signals on this topic. Back in 2017, he hinted at the possibility of letting married men join the priesthood, especially in remote areas with a priest shortage. But then, in 2021, he shut down the idea of changing the celibacy rule, rejecting a proposal for elderly married men to be ordained in the Amazon.
But wait, there’s more – last year, Francis spoke up again, saying celibacy isn’t set in stone like priestly ordination. It’s more like a “discipline” that could use a little revision. So, the Pope’s got a foot in both camps.
A Look Back: History of Celibacy in the Church
Scicluna points out that priests used to be allowed to marry back in the early days of the Church. Even today, in the eastern rite of the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, marriage is fair game for priests. Over in Protestant and Anglican churches, they’ve been rocking a married priesthood too.
But, of course, there are the traditionalists who argue that celibacy lets a priest fully dedicate themselves to the church and their congregation.
Debating Change: Advocates and Opponents
Those rooting for a change in the celibacy rule argue that it’s a contributor to the priest shortage, loneliness, and even cases of sexual abuse. The Movement for Married Clergy (MMaC) in England and Wales has been pushing for discussions on relaxing or axing the celibacy rule to address the priest shortage.
On the flip side, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the big cheese of the Church in England and Wales, isn’t feeling the change vibe. He’s all about keeping things as they are.
Scicluna’s Proposal: Encouraging or Radical?
The MMaC finds Scicluna’s proposal pretty encouraging and even radical. Mike Kerrigan, the MMaC chair, sees it as a potential game-changer. If the Church goes for it, it could mean allowing priests to marry – either before being ordained or after. It’s a bit more liberal than the eastern-rite Catholic churches, where marriage is a pre-ordination deal.
The debate’s heating up, and it’s not just about tradition; it’s about the future of the Catholic priesthood. Will the Vatican make a move, or is celibacy here to stay? Only time will tell in this ecclesiastical saga!
