Cardinal: Married Catholic priests a possibility (UPDATE: Cardinal's resignation accepted)

[UrbScotty]

Last edited Mon Feb 25, 2013, 12:10 PM - Edit history (2)

Roman Catholic priests should be allowed to marry and have children, Britain's most senior Catholic cleric said Friday.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who heads the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, said the requirement for priestly celibacy is "not of divine origin" and could be reconsidered.

He told BBC Scotland that "the celibacy of the clergy, whether priests should marry — Jesus didn't say that."

He said that "many priests have found it very difficult to cope with celibacy," and while he had never considered marriage himself, "I would be very happy if others had the opportunity of considering whether or not they could or should get married."

http://www.freep.com/article/20130222/NEWS07/130222068/Cardinal-Married-Catholic-priests-possibility

Just throwing this out there, but the idea that women can't be priests is also "not of divine origin."

Either way, don't expect Cardinal Keith O'Brien to be the next Pope.

UPDATE: Cardinal O'Brien's resignation as archbishop of Edinburgh was accepted by the Pope this morning - just three months after he submitted said resignation. He also stated that he will not participate in the conclave.

While bishops are required top submit their resignation by their 75th birthday, the Pope does not always accept resignations so quickly. For some perspective, Cardinal George of Chicago submitted his resignation more than a year ago, but said resignation has yet to be accepted. My bishop, Walter Hurley, submitted his resignation last May, yet the Pope has yet to accept his resignation either.

http://www.news.va/en/news/vatican-cardinal-o-brien-retires

[47of74]

1. He'd be only the 2nd English pope

Not holding my breath for him to get the job but he sounds like he'd be a halfway reasonable choice.

[47of74]

2. Any word on whether or not....

...Mahony is staying home?

[UrbScotty]

3. He's already there:

http://cardinalrogermahonyblogsla.blogspot.com/2013/02/different-mood-in-rome.html

[Pterodactyl]

4. You know, there are already married Catholic priests.

If they get married in a rite other than Roman and then switch to Roman rite, they stay married.

[demosincebirth]

5. Only from certain main-line, protestant, denominations. Off hand, I can think of two -- Lutheran and

Episcopalian. There are maybe two more.

[Pterodactyl]

6. Maronite and other Eastern Catholic priests can be married and then switch to Roman rite.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Catholic_Church

[demosincebirth]

7. They are already in communion with the Catholic Church.

[Pterodactyl]

8. Yup. As I said in my original post.

They get married while Catholic.

[Kingofalldems]

9. Here's how I see this shaking out

The Church assume the Orthodox rules for the priesthood.