Anonymous Catholic Bishop in Kenya (2023): "'I think this matter is being handled by our teams at the synod,' said an African Catholic bishop who did not wish to be named, 'but I don’t see how one can break the rules and at the same time demand a change.' The former priests point out that Catholics in many places are expressing support for married priests by moving to their dissenting churches, while still recognizing the supremacy of the pope."

Why should we lose a part of the Church over the *mandated* celibacy discipline?

It's one thing to split in the Church over doctrine, but it is another to split over mere discipline.

And why does this Catholic bishop wish to remain anonymous?  Remaining anonymous is for those that do not want negative backlash especially or retaliation of any type.

Is it too insulting to say that African Catholics are "catching up" with the West, and by catching up this means secularization, modernization, break down of the family, etc.?

African bishops and African Faithful are open to married priests.  

Excerpts:

“I think this matter is being handled by our teams at the synod,” said an African Catholic bishop who did not wish to be named, “but I don’t see how one can break the rules and at the same time demand a change.” 

"The former priests point out that Catholics in many places are expressing support for married priests by moving to their dissenting churches, while still recognizing the supremacy of the pope."

Source: https://religionnews.com/2023/10/25/in-kenya-married-ex-priests-follow-vatican-synods-discussion-of-clerical-celibacy

St. Olga Michael of Alaska (matushka / wife of Orthodox Priest Fr. Nicolai Michael, village storekeeper and postmaster), pray for us.

Orthodox Feast Day: Oct. 27

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

Conversations: 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

MarriedPriests.com: 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.

S.R.: Married Priests Carmelite spirituality has helped me immensely in this regard. It can be applied in any state of life as can many other charisms.

S.R.: Married Priests St Francis De Sales wrote ‘Introduction to the Devout Life’ for the laity in 1608. I’m sure there have been many lay people who were contemplatives throughout history.  There have been third orders for the laity since the 13th Century. The Letters of St Zelie Martin and St Lois Martin show a marriage that was grounded on prayer. The Letters of Elizabeth Lesseur are also another example of a lay contemplative.

MarriedPriests.com: Sa Rah thank you for trying. St. Francis de Sales was good friends with St. Frances Jane de Chantal and, you're right, the "Introduction to the Devout Life" was meant for laity which in the 17th Century was a good effort. But perhaps Sts. Louis and Zelie and St. Elizabeth Lesseur are the best foot forward for now, even though few people know their optional memorial feasts fall on July 12 and May 3, respectively. Still, you've proven the point that the lament remains that married saints are merely "optional memorial feasts" on the Church's liturgical calendar compared to other contemplative/Religious saints on the calendar -- even disproportionately -- and need more attention. In other words, the Church needs more married saints on the liturgical calendar, and not just optional memorial feasts. The Prelate of Opus Dei needs to strengthen his noble position of everyone being called to be contemplatives by explaining how this can be done for, say, a homeschooling mother of many kids with a noisy household. God bless.

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/