Charles Scicluna, the Archbishop of Malta and an adviser to Pope Francis, has called for a “serious discussion” about priestly celibacy in an interview.
“Why should we lose a young man who would have been a good priest just because he wants to get married?” the Pope’s confidant asks. Scicluna points out that celibacy was voluntary in the first millennium of the Church’s existence and believes it should become voluntary again. He also recalls that some priests enter into secret relationships because of celibacy, sometimes with children.
Last year, Pope Francis did not rule out the abolition of mandatory celibacy for priests. Speaking to an Argentinian news website, he saw no contradiction in the fact that a priest can marry. He referred to a number of Eastern church communities under the authority of Rome, where clergy can already marry without any problems. He views celibacy in the Western Church as a temporary arrangement that – unlike ordination – does not have an eternal character.
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