LAUNCESTON (TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA)
The Examiner
March 28, 2018
By Stefan Boscia
A Launceston priest has no personal objection to making celibacy optional for Catholic Church clergy.
Father Mark Freeman suggested it was one of several measures that should be considered to bring the church further in line with other Christian denominations.
The Catholic Church forces clergy to remain celibate throughout their life, unlike other mainstream Christian denominations.
A recent royal commission into institutional sexual abuse recommended the Catholic Church reconsider the practice.
“[The Catholic Church] needs to look seriously at anything that puts priests up on a pedestal,” he said.
“I would have no difficulty if the discussion lead to the fact that that [celibacy] was an optional thing [for Priests] – it would not worry me.
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