Catholic bishops urged to review celibacy rules amid shortage of priests
by Harriet Sherwood Religion correspondent from World news | The Guardian on (#2MRCA)
Call for commission to reconsider celibacy as condition of priesthood as number of priests in England and Wales plummets
Catholic bishops in England and Wales are facing a fresh call for a national commission on the ordination of married men amid mounting concern that the church's celibacy requirement is contributing to a shortage of priests.
The call for a review of celibacy as a condition of priesthood comes after Pope Francis signalled last month he was open to the possibility of ordaining married men under specific conditions. The issue is expected to raised at a synod next year on vocation.