A Catholic priest said the idea of married men being ordained to the priesthood would need extensive study and consultation.
Fr. Jerome Secillano of the Nuestra Senora del Perpetuo Socorro Parish in Manila said this is because while there are matters from within the Church that are non-negotiable and have long been settled, like doctrines, there are also those that “remain possible and would need extensive study and consultation before being adopted and implemented.”
Pope Francis raised the possibility of permitting married men to become priests to address the shortage of Catholic priests in some countries.
Secillano believes the pontiff has a valid reason why he made the remark.
“It’s not as if the Pope made the remark about the former without compelling or valid reasons or in the absence of any basis from tradition,” he said.
“I do believe ecclesiastical authorities would be wise enough to discern what will be good or bad for the universal church,” added Secillano.
As for now, he said the idea is still merely a possibility.
Secillano also clarified that the Holy Father’s statement was not about priests being allowed to marry.
“The Pope’s remarks pertain to married men possibly getting ordained priests and not about priests being allowed to marry. The latter being more complicated,” he said. (Leslie Ann G. Aquino)