IRELAND
Irish Central
Jane Walsh @irishcentral December 02,2014
Dublin’s Archbishop Diarmuid Martin says the celibacy of Catholic priests is not part of the Vatican’s dogma and, therefore, is an issue in the church that could be addressed.
The Archbishop acknowledged that “celibacy is a difficult and challenging thing.”
He added that most priests he knew “live their celibacy very faithfully with all the challenges that are there.”
Martin was speaking to the Irish Independent following a prayer service attended by more than 1,000 priests, nuns and brothers in Dublin. The service marked the opening of the Catholic Church’s special Year for Consecrated Life.
He was questioned about the new book “Thirty-Three Good Men: Celibacy, Obedience and Identity,” which claims to reveal intimate facts about the lives of priests in modern Ireland, including their sexual relations.
Although the Archbishop said he was unaware of the research he said, “I know what is going on with my priests. I know good priests and I know priests who struggle – I support all of them.”
He added, “I don’t think if people fail that you abolish celibacy.”
The book, by Dr John Weafer, claims that most Irish priests do not support compulsory celibacy.
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