When three retired bishops write to The Tablet to support the case for ordaining married men in the Catholic Church, it is clear something is stirring in the undergrowth. It seems retirement has given them the freedom to say things they would have hesitated to say while still in post; it is likely that other bishops, not yet retired, are having similar thoughts. Yet though Pope Francis has actively encouraged the making of applications by bishops’ conferences to him to dispense with the celibacy requirement in order to meet a shortfall of priests, so far no such applications appear to have been made. That the bishops of England and Wales have not responded to his general invitation strongly suggests there is more than one opinion on the matter in their conference.The practical argum