Priests urge Church to propose ordination of married men

The Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) has renewed its call for the Irish church to make a proposal to the Vatican for the admittance of married men into the priesthood.

The proposal is being made in the context of what a statement from the ACP called a “Eucharistic famine” as figures show dwindling numbers of priests across the country.

In a statement yesterday, the association said: “Expectation of change in the re-imaging of priesthood, not least in the celibacy requirement, is growing.

“Pope Francis has signalled the possibility of change in his recent interview with Brazilian bishop Erwin Krautler and the growing expectation is that the Brazilian bishops will adopt the Pope’s suggestion of making a direct approach to Rome as a bishops’ conference.”

It added: “The ACP wishes to add its voice to the growing demand in the Roman Catholic Church for a realistic and planned response to the present crisis in vocations.

“The need is obvious. It is clear in the statistics now available and in the lived experience at parish level. For instance, it is mathematically indisputable that, in 10 to 15 years, the steep decline in the number of priests will provoke a Eucharistic famine in Ireland.”

In a meeting with the Irish bishops on June 4th, the ACP suggested that, “as a matter of urgency”, the Irish church should propose the ordination of “suitable married men”, and to invite priests who left active ministry to get married to return to ministry.