Despite the shortage: Pope has endorsed the ordination of married men to the Amazon clergy
Contrary to the bishops' opinion, Pope Francis has reversed the decision that area residents who do not lead a retirement life can qualify as priests. Clerics say rainforest is lacking as a Catholic teacher and 85 percent of natives meet a priest once a year. "The move could cause terrible controversies in the church"
Despite the shortage: Pope has endorsed the ordination of married men to the Amazon clergy
Photo: Reuters, Edit: Shaul Adam(In the video: Pope Francis has published a document on the plight of the Amazon priests)
Pope Francis canceled Wednesday's ruling that married Amazon men could qualify for clergy, despite the shortage of Catholic priests in the area. Bishops have supported it since last year, but the Pope's approval is needed to implement the decision.
Catholic priests are required to abide by the law of celibacy for their ordination, except in cases where married Anglican priests have converted. Life of retirement is seen as giving the life of the individual to God. The conservative wing of the Catholic Church, especially in Europe and North America, protested against the idea of married priests arguing that it would lead to a global abolition of the bachelor's value.
A statement from the Vatican said that "the Amazon is challenging us, Pope wrote to overcome limited perspectives and not to satisfy our wishes with solutions that answer only part of the current situation." According to the Pope, priests who understand the sensitivity and culture of the Amazon people are needed. He urged bishops to "promote prayer for the clergy" and encourage those who want to become missionaries to "advance the Amazon region."
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Pope Francis speaks at the Vatican in Rome. February 05, 2020. (Photo: Reuters)
Last October, the Vatican convened a church council attended by 184 bishops, during which the future of the Amazon church was discussed. It is argued that older men married to priests should be approved. However, they have to be respectable men, a priority from local communities. It is estimated that at least 85% of the Amazon villages cannot celebrate Mass each week as a result of a lack of priests. Some residents only see a priest once a year.
Bishop Robert Flock of San Ignacio, a remote district in the forests of Bolivia, said: "The Pope just kicked a can down the street. He didn't even mention the recommendation for ordaining junior priests married to clergy, as suggested in the convention's conclusions." The bishop further added that "the Catholic Church is slowly progressing in some areas, and it is one of them that can cause terrible schisms in the church."
Pope Francis has said in the past that he will consider the possibility of married men in some positions. In addition, yesterday, Pope announced he would not allow women to serve in junior clerical positions, and also called for protecting the environment in the Amazon in light of its vital role in alleviating global warming. "We need to put an end to the lack of care and disruption to Mother Earth."
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To the full article"One of those things that can cause terrible controversies in the church." Vatican synod conference (Photo: AP)
Pope Francis is officiating at the Mass to close the Amazon Synod on the Vatican issue. October 27, 2019. (Photo: AP)
Some conclude that Pope Francis 'decision not to comply with the Amazon bishops' request is a victory for his predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and those traditionally regarded as the flag bearer.
Last month, it was revealed that Benedict contributed to the book "From the Deep of Our Heart," written by Cardinal Robert Sarah, which emphasizes that pastors must live a life of celibacy. However, when Pope Francis was asked about the issue in January last year, he made clear his own preferences. "Personally," he said, "I think celibacy is a gift to the church. I would say that I would not leave celibacy as an option."
Pope Francis has also expressed concern that if retirement life becomes a major issue in his response at the Ecclesiastical Council in October, then other urgent issues to help him receive much-needed attention. In the first part of his response, he wrote that "the Amazon is dealing with an ecological disaster," so he should not focus on the domestic issues such as retirement life, but rather on the external site of climate change.
