Lavoisier Fernandez (25 Oct. 2026): "This distinction between doctrine and discipline is essential." "Married former Anglican clergy Keith Newton, John Broadhurst, and Andrew Burnham pose with their wives—Gill Newton, Judi Broadhurst, and Cathy Burnham—and Bishop Alan Hopes at their ordination for the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham on Jan. 13, 2011. Photo by Fr. James Bradley via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)."

Photo credit: "Image: Married former Anglican clergy Keith Newton, John Broadhurst, and Andrew Burnham pose with their wives—Gill Newton, Judi Broadhurst, and Cathy Burnham—and Bishop Alan Hopes at their ordination for the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham on Jan. 13, 2011. Photo by Fr. James Bradley via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)."

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EXCERPT:

"Celibacy Is a Discipline, Not a Dogma

A common misconception is that priestly celibacy is an unchangeable teaching of the Catholic faith.

It is not. In the Latin Church, priestly celibacy is a discipline. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that Latin clergy embrace celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven, allowing them to dedicate themselves more completely to Christ and his Church (CCC 1579).

This distinction between doctrine and discipline is essential.

A doctrine refers to the truths of faith that the Church teaches as belonging to its constant belief. A discipline is a practice established by the Church that can differ between legitimate traditions."

Source ("Where Peter Is," 25 Oct. 2026): https://wherepeteris.com/catholic-celibacy-and-married-priests-a-tradition-often-misunderstood/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=page&utm_content=page-new&fbclid=IwY2xjawVNFldleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mBHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzQwOTk2MjYyMzA4NTYwOQABHisnJqnA2moB-d85UD9KFHhiY0VI3pDvamyjbUKPMVgCOKQsOb2gAEH8Mtvr_aem_NjRsH7rSgv_qkxndN4jz6A

"If the viri probati are deacons, [Bishop] Simard [of Valleyfield, Canada] asked (2018), should there be “super deacons?” And if deacons are ordained to the priesthood to celebrate the Eucharist and other sacraments, what will happen to their service to the poor and to charity?" “We must consider the impact on deacons,” he said."

"If the viri probati are deacons, [Bishop] Simard [of Valleyfield, Canada] asked (2018), should there be “super deacons?” And if deacons are ordained to the priesthood to celebrate the Eucharist and other sacraments, what will happen to their service to the poor and to charity?"  “We must consider the impact on deacons,” he said."

Source: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2018/04/bishops-in-quebec-discuss-possibility-of-married-priests-and-potential-impact-on-deacons/#AdUgcoOdKbRWHkit.01

Response to Prelate of Opus Dei letter that "Everyone can be a contemplative" comment: In the Latin Rite today marriage and contemplative life can be seen to be in opposition to each other

Thank you, Father. Unfortunately, for the Latin Rite, marriage and the contemplative life can be see to be in opposition in practice. So Father needs to address how even married people can be contemplative in the article. The Catechism Pillar IV says that it can be done, but even when you look at the Church's liturgical calendar, most of the saints held up as heroes are not married contemplative. Opus Dei is a beautiful movement in the Church taking holiness to the ordinary day to day, so don't misunderstand this. So yes unfortunately the perception is that it is monks and nuns that are contemplative instead of married laity who only have unmarried saints to look up to on the liturgical calendar.

Source:

https://catholicweekly.com.au/everyone-can-be-a-contemplative/?fbclid=IwY2xjawVKdm9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mBHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzQwOTk2MjYyMzA4NTYwOQABHqHgIOiBD96nnATdxJm0V2to8r-A70gEClYGl0JxyiP9SdBomxVg6Gy3a2Ef_aem_1WeImni7xIFlI8snEKWj8g

"The question of 'viri probati', the proven men in work and family, can be seriously examined;" "You have to ask whether priesthood and celibacy always have to be connected" (2017): Bishop Emeritus Franz-Josef Bode of Osnabrück, Germany

 

Excerpt (2017)

Bishop of Osnabrück Franz-Josef Bode must be considered about the admission requirements to the priesthood. "The question of 'viri probati', the proven men in work and family, can be seriously examined,' he said in an interview with the Osnabrück diocese newspaper "Church messenger" (Sunday):" You have to ask whether priesthood and celibacy always have to be connected."

Source: https://www.katholisch.de/artikel/13538-bode-priesteramt-nicht-immer-an-zoelibat-binden

"Sandro Magister pointed out, however, that while the West has developed a 'theology of priestly celibacy' it has failed to do the same for married priests."

https://www.newadvent.org/summa/5053.htm#article4 (30 June 2020)

I would agree. Recently, Sandro Magister pointed out, however, that while the West has developed a “theology of priestly celibacy” it has failed to do the same for married priests.

Magisterium Document "Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Diaconorum Permanentium" #68 (promulgated in 1998 by the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education and Vatican's Congregation for the Clergy) (1998): Human Formation of Married Deacon Candidates Include "Welcoming Children"

Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Diaconorum Permanentium (promulgated in 1998 by the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education and Vatican's Congregation for the Clergy)

https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccatheduc/documents/rc_con_ccatheduc_doc_31031998_directorium-diaconi_en.html

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http://caritasveritas.blogspot.com/2010/11/permanent-deacons-are-obliged-obliged.html?m=1

http://caritasveritas.blogspot.com/2010/11/permanent-deacons-are-obliged-obliged.html?m=1

On the side of the angels17 January, 2011 13:53

What I can't understand is that Cardinal Laghi in the 1998 RATIO FUNDAMENTALIS INSTITUTIONIS
DIACONORUM PERMANENTIUM speaks of married deacons 'welcoming' children....
How?

Bishop Charles Gauci of Darwin, Australia (2023): “We certainly have had several married indigenous deacons in the Northern Territory and they have been excellent men." “Whether, after formation and time, some of them could proceed to priesthood, well, I’m open to that – there are possibilities.”

 

“I also say that the charism of celibacy is a gift to the Church and cannot be lost.

“We certainly have had several married indigenous deacons in the Northern Territory and they have been excellent men. 

“Whether, after formation and time, some of them could proceed to priesthood, well, I’m open to that – there are possibilities.”

Source: 

https://catholicleader.com.au/news/brisbane-archbishop-backs-married-indigenous-men-to-be-allowed-pathway-to-priesthood/

Deacon Bill Ditewig, Ph.D. (2011): "At no point, in any conciliar or post-conciliar official document has there ever been a single statement that directed permanent deacons were to remain continent following ordination. It is not in any of the Council documents, it is not in any papal statements, nor is there any mention of it in any of the several documents promulgated by the Holy See concerning the nature and exercise of the permanent deacon. No pope, no dicastery, has ever exhorted their married deacons to observe continence; in fact, we have been encouraged to be completely faithful and diligent in carrying out all of the responsibilities, duties and dimensions of family life. Interestingly, for many deacons and their wives who have had children AFTER ordination, there has been no public outcry that some kind of canon has been violated, or has such a deacon been dealt with by means of loss of faculties or suspension from ministry. If such a connection as posited by Dr. Peters was of such importance to the Latin Church (it clearly is not in the Eastern Churches), you would think that SOMEONE in authority would have acted accordingly. In this case, theological and pastoral praxis seems to provide a powerful hermeneutic for approaching the law." "Therefore, it seems to me that, clearly, the mind of the church is such that there is NO expectation of clerical continency by married deacons, despite Dr. Peters' claims. Perhaps he is correct that the law should be changed to prevent any similar misunderstanding in the future."

"At no point, in any conciliar or post-conciliar official document has there ever been a single statement that directed permanent deacons were to remain continent following ordination.  It is not in any of the Council documents, it is not in any papal statements, nor is there any mention of it in any of the several documents promulgated by the Holy See concerning the nature and exercise of the permanent deacon.  No pope, no dicastery, has ever exhorted their married deacons to observe continence; in fact, we have been encouraged to be completely faithful and diligent in carrying out all of the responsibilities, duties and dimensions of family life.  Interestingly, for many deacons and their wives who have had children AFTER ordination, there has been no public outcry that some kind of canon has been violated, or has such a deacon been dealt with by means of loss of faculties or suspension from ministry.  If such a connection as posited by Dr. Peters was of such importance to the Latin Church (it clearly is not in the Eastern Churches), you would think that SOMEONE in authority would have acted accordingly.  In this case, theological and pastoral praxis seems to provide a powerful hermeneutic for approaching the law."

"Therefore, it seems to me that, clearly, the mind of the church is such that there is NO expectation of clerical continency by married deacons, despite Dr. Peters' claims.  Perhaps he is correct that the law should be changed to prevent any similar misunderstanding in the future."

Source: https://pilgrimsfootsteps.blogspot.com/2011/01/so-i-leave-town-for-few-days-and-look.html?m=1

Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Archbishop Emeritus of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (appointed by B16 & JP2), Past President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (2023): “I don’t know quite when or how but … the question [of married priests / modifying mandated celibacy] is certainly not going away,” he said. “And I think there will come a point of maturation when it will look kind of like the natural next step, not an artificial or dramatic or untimely overturning of what’s been a very long tradition.” "Clerical celibacy is an undoubted value, but it’s not an absolute value." “But the question is whether it should be mandatory for all, and the context of the question is the changing profile of the priesthood and the current needs of the People of God.”

 

“I think it’s fairly bleak with regard to the Church generally now. So one of the things I have just floated is that: is there reason enough to say that within Indigenous communities we will ordain married men?

“We have married clergy. I mean, some of the clergy who are from other Churches are married men … so it’s not as if we don’t know married clergy.”

Source:

https://cathnews.com/2023/08/14/allow-married-indigenous-men-to-become-priests-archbishop-coleridge/

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“Clerical celibacy is an undoubted value, but it’s not an absolute value." 

“But the question is whether it should be mandatory for all, and the context of the question is the changing profile of the priesthood and the current needs of the People of God.” 

“I don’t know quite when or how but … the question is certainly not going away,” he said.

“And I think there will come a point of maturation when it will look kind of like the natural next step, not an artificial or dramatic or untimely overturning of what’s been a very long tradition.”

Source:

https://catholicleader.com.au/news/brisbane-archbishop-backs-married-indigenous-men-to-be-allowed-pathway-to-priesthood/

425 Steps Forward, But 2,891 Steps Backwards: "Uninterrupted" 13-Year decline in seminarians (-2891 or -2.7% decline from previous year), worsening Catholics Per Priest Ratio (3491 to 1 Priest), while pitiful increase of priests (+425 or +0.001% increase from previous year) after 5-year decline

 

The proposal before the Latin Rite today to ordain viri probati married priests is to ordain older, stable married men (like married deacons with a tested/proven fruitful diaconate and other proven married men), after suitable formation. They do not need a rectory, do not need to be paid a full-time salary like Ordinariate priests, are more often than not financially stable, are experienced with family life, bring years of successful experience preaching, teaching and administering some Sacraments and years of service in the servant-office of Christ for the neglected, have the time either part-time or full-time availability to serve as married priests for Masses, Confessions and Last Rites in the Latin Rite. 

Even if just a minimum of 1/5 of deacons were ordained Latin Rite married priests, then the Vatican statistics of the priest shortage since the 1970s would stabilize.

Even if there was no global celibate priest shortage, the Catholic Church STILL needs married priests. The Catholic blogosphere in Oct. 2026 celebrated a 425+ priest increase which is only a mere +<.001% increase of priests but a -2.7% decrease of seminarians. And praise God for the increase (which surely includes some married priests in that number).  But the priest ordinations are NOT exceeding the 1970s levels (the highest in Catholic history), and all this compounded with a doubling of the Catholic world population since then.  Wake up, Catholics! You need priests!

The proposal is not to ordain younger 20-something year-old seminarians without life exerience as married priests.  This is how bishops that support married priests in the Latin Rite talk.  Eastern Rite allows a married deacon at 23 years old, while the Latin Rite allows a married deacon at 35 years old.  The reason in the Latin Rite is the desire for older family men.

Deacon Bill Ditewig once said that Paul VI who implemented the Council's restoration of the permanent diaconate in the Latin Rite intended the permanent diaconate to be for married men in their 30s raising families and working to serve as married deacons but that in practice men in their 50s and 60s tend to be ordained for whatever reason.  In any case, looking to married permanent deacons remains a possible pathway.  There's more than one way to skin the cat, so to speak.

Thank God for the 425 increase (+ 0.001%) in the priesthood.  Surely, some of those included married Catholic priests.

Your Holiness, using Canon 1047.3 (to dispense Canon 1042.1), please open the priesthood to some/many married deacons with a fruitful diaconate, after suitable formation, and other married Roman Rite Catholic men not currently deacons, if bishops request it.

See also: https://marriedpriesthood.blogspot.com/2026/09/your-holiness-using-canon-10473-to.html?m=

"The total reached 407,421, up 425 from the previous year. Growth in Africa (+1,676), Asia (+1,065), and the Americas (+199) outweighed declines in Europe (-2,483) and Oceania (-32).

Diocesan priests numbered 279,238, an increase of 496, while religious priests fell by 71 to 128,183.

The average number of Catholics per priest nevertheless rose by 38 to 3,491."

Source: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2026-10/fides-agency-2026-annual-church-statistics.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawVAZvlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mBHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzQwOTk2MjYyMzA4NTYwOQABHinfTLGgRyOgvoL4dHuQGlkV_Zh2KX-fHZV6syJ_BuYDPUs8vMKMLFOH_Btn_aem_dZ30HRCht-xkTkbuDAseTQ

"According to data cited by Catholic World News and referenced by LifeSiteNews, the number of seminarians peaked in 2011 and began to fall sharply after 2013. Since that year, global seminary enrollment has shown what the data describes as an “uninterrupted” decline through 2023."

Source: https://catholiconline.news/catholic-church/global-priest-shortage-deepens-as-seminary-enrollment-declines-again/

Prayer (13 Oct. 2026): O Lord, in the final battle over family and marriage, raise up, we beseech Thee, married men -- baptized Catholics -- to the Order of Priest in the Latin Rite, to defend the family and marriage as married Catholic priests and for the salvation of souls; we ask this through the intercession of the Holy Theotokos, Our Lady of Fatima, and in Your Name Jesus Our Lord, the Married High Priest Lamb of God. Amen.

 

Prayer (13 Oct. 2026)

O Lord, in the final battle over family and marriage, raise up, we beseech Thee, married men -- baptized Catholics -- to the Order of Priest in the Latin Rite, to defend the family and marriage as married Catholic priests and for the salvation of souls; we ask this through the intercession of the Holy Theotokos, Our Lady of Fatima, and in Your Name Jesus, Our Lord, the Married High Priest Lamb of God.  Amen.