Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri Archives

Chair of pope’s Amazon summit puts married priests, women squarely on the table

Oct 7, 2019

Not wasting any time, the chairman of Pope Francis’s Synod of Bishops on the Amazon kicked things off Monday morning by putting the hotly contested issues of married priests and the role of woman squarely on the assembly’s table.

By John L. Allen Jr.

Pope opens synod urging bishops ‘not to kick the Holy Spirit out of the hall’

Oct 7, 2019

Pope Francis rued what he called a tendency to see some cultures as “second-class civilizations,” which, he said, “distances us from the reality of a people and separates us from them, which is disrespect.”

By John L. Allen Jr.

Amazon synod organizers: ‘Voice of local Church’ led to married priest debate

Oct 4, 2019

When the curtain rises on Sunday for the Oct. 6-27 Synod of Bishops on the Amazon, much of the attention will be focused on the possibility of ordaining married men to the priesthood as a way of providing sacraments to areas that might not see a priest more than once or twice a year.

By Inés San Martín

Amazonians say married priests a response to local realities

Sep 24, 2019

Though it doesn’t actually mention the ‘viri probati’, the Synod’s preparatory document suggests studying “priestly ordination for elders — preferably indigenous, respected and accepted by the community — even if they have an established and stable family.”

By Inés San Martín

What’s in a name: Vatican questions use of term ‘viri probati’

Jun 18, 2019

While the upcoming Synod of Bishops on the Amazon aims to highlight the damage wrought by climate change and exploitation, the possibility of ordaining married men to minister in remote areas of the rainforest continues to garner more attention.

By Junno Arocho Esteves