Catholic bishops meeting this month to discuss issues in the Amazon region of South America will consider the possibility of married priests.
The Pan-Amazonian region, which covers much of northern South America, is suffering a severe shortage of priests. To address this challenge, Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes, chairman of this month’s meeting, or synod, of bishops said Monday that the bishops would debate the topic of married priests in the Pan-Amazonian region.
Hummes emphasized the importance of ensuring the faithful have regular access to the Eucharist, a sacrament requiring a priest in which bread and wine are consecrated and become the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
“Participation in the celebration of the Eucharist, at least on Sundays, is essential for the full and progressive development of Christian communities and a true experience of the Word of God in people’s lives,” Hummes said, according to the Catholic news organization Crux. “It will be necessary to define new paths for the future.”
Hummes said local Catholics in the Amazon region had urged the bishops to consider the possibility of permitting married priests from their communities, while not doing away with the practice of celibacy entirely.
The possibility of married priests has prompted concern from some corners of the Catholic Church. German Cardinal Walter Brandmuller, who publicly questioned Pope Francis after a previous synod, raised worries about “the abolition of priestly celibacy and the introduction of a female priesthood.”
The pope, himself, has said he opposes making celibacy optional for all priests, but has expressed openness to older married men becoming priests in places that have a “pastoral necessity” for such priests.
On Monday, Hummes urged bishops not to be restrained by traditionalism, arguing that “true tradition, which is the Church’s living history, is something else.”
“God always brings newness, and demands our complete trust,” said Hummes.
