Martin open to married priests

The Archbishop of Dublin has signalled his openness to a discussion on the ordination of married men as priests, writes Sarah Mac Donald.

Speaking after Easter Sunday ceremonies, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin referred to comments by Bishop Erwin Kräutler of Xingu in Brazil, that were reported in The Tablet,  (Church in the World, 12 April). Bishop Kräutler said that Pope Francis is open to hearing suggestions from bishops’ conferences across the world on ordaining viri probati (men of proven character).

“The Pope said he is open to the question, he wants to listen to local churches. But he said no local church, no national church, should go on its own,” the archbishop told the Irish Independent.

He said he would therefore “wait and see” what Pope Francis decided, though he suggested that the ordination of married men would be very important in missionary countries. But he ruled out the ordination of women as “not on the table at the moment”.

In another interview, the Archbishop revealed the number of priests in the Archdiocese of Dublin has dropped below 400 for the first time.

There are now 250 active diocesan priests to cover 199 parishes.