2014-04-18   Letter to The Tablet
- Chris McDonnell
Secretary of the Movement for Married Clergy UK

Married priests. It’s time


Your report (The Church in the World,
12 April), following the meeting between
Bishop Erwin Kräutler and Pope Francis,
“Ordination of married men back on the
agenda”, is significant on two counts.
First of all, it recognises the unopened
gift of the Second Vatican Council given to
us in Lumen Gentium, that of collegiality.
The courage of the local bishops is called
upon to seek honest solutions within the
context of the local need. It is reflective of
the recent comment by Cardinal Karl
Lehmann when he said that “We need to be
more courageous in dialogue within the
Church. We complain that Rome is over-powerful
but the reason why Rome is so
strong is because we are too weak.” That was
a significant remark.
Secondly, it brings back into the public
arena the necessity to consider the ordination
of married men to the priesthood. We can
no longer continue ignoring communities
who are deprived of the Eucharist when
there is a solution in our hands to meet their
need. Courageous conversations are indeed
required.
Chris McDonnell
Secretary, Movement for Married Clergy UK

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