NCR Exclusive: Vatican’s abuse expert says ending priestly celibacy could prevent a ‘double life’

by JOSHUA J. MCELWEE

One of the Catholic Church’s leading doctrinal officials has reiterated his unusual call for the global institution to consider ending its millennia-long requirement that priests remain celibate, saying that allowing priestly marriage could be a means of preventing clerics from living dangerous double lives.

In an exclusive interview with National Catholic Reporter on Jan. 24, Archbishop Charles Scicluna said: “One of my worries is that people are put in a situation where they are comfortable with a double life.”

“This is not to diminish the beauty of celibacy or the heroic commitment of people who have accepted celibacy as a gift and live it,” said the archbishop, speaking in an interview at the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith for NCR’s

The Vatican Briefing

podcast. “But I think it is good that we discuss it.”

Earlier this month, Scicluna — who serves as both the Archbishop of Malta and an adjunct secretary of the Vatican dicastery — 

made headlines 

when he said he believes it is time to revisit the church’s long-standing ban on allowing marriage for most of its clerics.

At the time, the archbishop was commenting on the lives of priests who have hidden relationships, which he said could be a “symptom” of priests “having to cope with” their celibacy requirement. 

Link to full article:

https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-news/exclusive-vaticans-abuse-expert-says-ending-priestly-celibacy-could-prevent?utm_source=NCR+List&utm_campaign=61d6512f98-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_01_30_01_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6981ecb02e-61d6512f98-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D

“I think that if the church is not accountable, it’s not synodal.”

— Archbishop Charles Scicluna

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Chris McDonnell, writing in the Catholic Times, states what should be obvious to all; “Renewal and repair is not only a clerical task, for clericalism has been one of the deep seated roots from which have grown our present dysfunctional state. The laity must willingly accept the burden of reformation, bringing their skills, talents and experience to the service of faith. And they must be listened to, not brushed aside as an inconvenient irritant as has so often been the case. Parish councils, Diocesan councils are not an optional feature but play an essential part of our journey, they facilitate meaningful exchange.”

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