Friday, October 20, 2017

My view: Let's talk about married priests


My view: Let's talk about married priests

DERRY (NORTHERN IRELAND)
Derry Now
October 15, 2017
By Father Paddy O'Kane
[Note: The photo at the top of this article is not identified. It shows Anglican priest Father Alberto CutiƩ, who left the Catholic Church and married in 2009. He is pictured with his wife, stepson, and infant daughter in Biscayne Park FL in 2011.]
Story one. Three years ago in Lourdes we were sharing the hotel with another pilgrimage from Liverpool. In the bedroom next to mine there was a Roman Catholic priest and his wife.
All above board. He had been an Anglican minister and became a convert, one of the many to leave their church in protest against the introduction of women priests and bishops.
Story two. After dinner one evening on a recent pilgrimage I passed this question around the room: ‘”If you were Pope Francis for a day what changes would you make?”
I was surprised by how many who said: “The first thing I would do would be to would allow priests to marry.”
Story three. Let’s face it, we have a crisis. This year the national seminary in Maynooth had only eight students entering to study for the priesthood. Half of these will probably leave during their training. When I went there in 1966 there was over 80!
Priest-less parishes are appearing all over Ireland and may be here in this diocese before long.

No comments:

Post a Comment