Celibacy Archives

Amazon synod reports support, dissent on married priests and women deacons
- Amazon synod
- Oct 18, 2019
Judging from Friday’s reports, the Oct. 6-27 Synod on the Amazon, there’s overwhelming consensus on most points, such as Pope Francis’s call for an “integral ecology.” Yet even within that climate of basic harmony, there were also scattered notes of dissent on two hot-button questions: Married priests and women deacons.
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U.S. bishops speak at synod for the Amazon
- Amazon synod, Catholic News Service
- Oct 15, 2019
The Synod of Bishops for the Amazon is not a “referendum” on priestly celibacy; it is looking for ways to provide for the sacramental life and formation of the people there, U.S. Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston said.
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Memo to Synod: If you don’t want focus on married priests, give us something else
- Analysis
- Oct 13, 2019
One difficulty in getting those of us in the media to focus on subjects such as ecology, poverty and extractive industries in the Amazon is that it’s hard to know what the Catholic Church can really do about them.
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Could the Amazon synod be Cardinal Marc Ouellet’s last hurrah?

Though he probably wouldn’t have chosen it as his battleground, in effect the debate over married priests at the 2019 Amazon synod could be Ouellet’s last hurrah, his final opportunity in a meaningful setting to make the case for tradition in a time of runaway change.

Cardinal Marx: Church must have serious debate on celibacy, role of women

The Catholic Church in Germany is at a point where serious debate — including on priestly celibacy and the role of women — and openness to doing things in a new way must be encouraged, said the president of the German bishops’ conference.