Faith
Belgian Bishop Sets Timeline to Ordain Married Men by 2028
Faith Facts
- Church Canon 1042 generally prohibits married men from entering the priesthood, with very limited exceptions for certain converts and Eastern Rites.
- Proposed changes to celibacy requirements are often framed as solutions to priest shortages rather than adherence to traditional doctrine.
- Pope Francis previously urged bishops to pray for more vocations and missionary work rather than altering the requirements for the priesthood.
A Catholic bishop in Belgium has signaled a major departure from long-standing ecclesiastical traditions regarding clerical celibacy.
Bishop Johan Bonny of Antwerp announced a timeline to ordain married men by 2028, claiming a consensus exists among leadership to shift these requirements.
While the Roman Catholic Church currently forbids the ordination of married men under Canon 1042, Bonny argues that declining vocation numbers necessitate this change.
He stated that the lack of unmarried candidates has reached a critical point for many dioceses.
“The question is no longer whether the Church can ordain married men as priests but when it will do so, and who will do it,” wrote Bonny.
The bishop intends to personally oversee the vetting and training of married candidates to ensure they possess adequate theological experience.
This move comes despite Pope Francis previously declining to implement similar changes following a 2017 synod on the Amazon region.
As believers, we must pray for the preservation of biblical integrity and the strength of those called to lead the flock in a changing world.