Pope Francis recently forced people to sit up and take note of a statement. He believes that the abolition of compulsory celibacy in the Catholic Church is possible. What is the position of the bishops responsible for Tyrol, Hermann Glettler and Franz Lackner, on this subject? You are skeptical.
Pope Francis knows how to make headlines. He could imagine the abolition of compulsory celibacy for priests – with this statement he recently attracted attention and sparked a discussion. With his words, the pope shakes a guiding principle in the Catholic Church that was previously considered immutable.
Not a matter of belief, but a rule that can be changed
Many believers and reformers regard the prescribed celibacy of priests as superfluous anyway. The bishops responsible for Tyrol, Hermann Glettler (Diocese of Innsbruck) and Franz Lackner (Archdiocese of Salzburg), see things slightly differently. Both state in principle that celibacy is not a matter of faith, not a dogma, but can be changed as an ecclesiastical regulation. As an example they cite the Eastern Church, which allows married men to become priests.
Glettler sees celibacy as a valuable way of life
And yet: both clerics are skeptical. Glettler calls celibacy a “valuable way of life” to be able to devote oneself fully to church service and pastoral care: “I would find it a loss of culture if this way of life disappeared from our society.” van Innsbruck also points out that in retrospect one had to speak of a double vocation because the woman had to bear everything: “After all, the priesthood is not a job like any other.”
Lackner sees the problem of a lack of priests as unsolved
Archbishop Franz Lackner also expressed concern. To believe that abolishing celibacy would solve the problem of the shortage of priests is short-sighted: “If the change has been made purely for the purpose of modernization, I doubt that the Church and the priesthood will have really been served. Lackner misses the discussion about the possible abolition of the question, “What do I put in its place?”
He is not in favor of abolition, says Glettler, “but if it is clarified at the level of the universal church, I will have nothing against it.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
