Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta, Adjunct Secretary for the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, has publicly voiced his opinion that the Church should reconsider its stance on mandatory celibacy for priests.
This unprecedented move challenges a long-standing tradition within the Latin rite of the Catholic Church.
In his interview with the Times of Malta, Archbishop Scicluna highlighted that the current celibacy rule might be out of step with modern realities. He pointed out that the Catholic Church has witnessed numerous instances of priests engaging in secret relationships, and some even fathering children. “This is a global reality; it doesn’t just happen in Malta,” Scicluna remarked, suggesting a global nature to this issue.
Referencing the practice of the Eastern Catholic Churches, where priests have the option to marry, Archbishop Scicluna suggested that the Latin rite could benefit from a similar approach. He emphasized that celibacy was not mandatory in the Church for the first millennium, suggesting a return to these roots could be beneficial. “It was optional for the first millennium of the Church’s existence and it should become optional again,” he said.
While acknowledging the importance and place of celibacy in the Church, Archbishop Scicluna believes that giving priests the choice to marry could prevent the loss of potential and existing skilled priests forced to choose between marriage and their vocation. “Why should we lose a young man who would have made a fine priest just because he wanted to get married?” he asked, highlighting an apparent dilemma.
His comments have sparked a discussion within the Church, with some viewing them as controversial. However, Archbishop Scicluna clarified that the final decision does not rest with him. The issue of priestly celibacy has been a topic of discussion in recent Church synods, and it is expected to continue to be a subject of significant debate in the coming years.
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