Belgian bishop proposes ordaining married men as priests

Belgian bishop Johan Bonny has raised an issue the Vatican has avoided for many years. In a public letter, he said he intends to push for the ordination of married men by 2028, despite celibacy remaining one of the central pillars of Catholic tradition.

Bonny points to the reality on the ground. In his view, interest in the priesthood has all but dried up, and new vocations are unable to replace those leaving the clergy.

Dioceses are therefore relying increasingly on foreign priests, particularly from Eastern Europe and the Middle East, where married clergy are not uncommon. This growing gap between formal rules and lived reality is, he argues, no longer sustainable.

Pope Leo XIV has yet to make a clear statement on the issue, although he has repeatedly described priestly celibacy as an important value.

(reuters, pir)