The Movement for Married Clergy has ceased to function as an independent organisation but says it has found a “new home to reinvigorate our goal” in the grassroots, reform-minded community, Root & Branch.
Founded in the 1970s, the Movement for Married Clergy questioned compulsory celibacy for the clergy in light of the declining number of priests serving in parishes.
Chris McDonnell, a spokesman for the Movement said that “one man, two vocations” was "perfectly possible.” He added: “The availability of the Eucharist is of far greater importance than the marital status of the priest.”
The organisation has decided to lend their voice to the cause of Root & Branch because members of the Married Clergy movement were ageing and no bishop had responded to calls to promote the group. In addition, three committee members recently died.
Founded just before the Synod on Synodality to acknowledge those currently marginalised or excluded by Church teachings, Root & Branch organised their first lay-led Synod in Bristol in 2021. It took part in Spirit Unbounded in Rome and Bristol in 2023, an event held in parallel with the Synod.
Bishop Erwin Kräutler, a contributor to the working document for the Synod on the Amazon said there was “no other option” than to review compulsory celibacy, given the challenge posed by declining vocations to the priesthood.
In an interview with the Times of Malta, the Archbishop of Malta, Charles Scicluna said: “The Church has lost many great priests because they chose marriage and have fallen in love.” He added: “If it were up to me, I would revise the requirement that priests have to be celibate”.
Chris McDonnell urged members of the Movement for Married Clergy to support Root and Branch in the hope of keeping alive “vital” discussions for a “flourishing Christian mission”.
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