To overcome a shortage of priests in the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis is considering extending the priesthood to additional numbers of married men.
Pope Francis might be open to discussing the possibility of married Catholic men being ordained as priests.
Francis made the comment in a recent interview with the German newspaper Die Zeit, suggesting that perhaps these men could work in some of the more remote communities that are in need of priests to provide sacraments to parishioners. The lack of Catholic priests is an “enormous problem,” said Francis, according to a translation of the interview in America magazine.
There is a significant distinction: Allowing married men to become priests is not the same thing as allowing priests to marry. Francis’s comment would apply to men already married becoming priests. Voluntary celibacy is not an option.
So when are they going to finally allow the ordination of women?
The article below refers to the ordaining of a married man in St.Louis a couple years ago and suggests that celibacy is optional. The ordination may be an exception, but could further advance “married priests.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/11/catholic-married-priests_n_5474937.html
I’m afraid that women will have to wait awhile, but I am confident it will come. A truth common in the Catholic Church today is “If you need something difficult done IN THE CHURCH, a woman has the energy, capacity,and smarts.” Most women in my Parish distribute Communion, are the Lector, or play the organ or piano. It’s only a matter
of time they will become Deacons and eventually a priest IMO.
The Catholic Church is evolving
And by the way, talking about celibacy as it relates to the evolution of the youthful mortal sin of “jerking off” or masturbation; it is now a “fault” as far as some priests are concerned.
P.S. Altar boys of yesterday are being replaced by altar girls. But both fidget.