Catholic bishop questions celibacy
Published 10:28 pm Friday, May 14, 2010
VIENNA — An Austrian bishop who has disagreed with the Vatican in the past about needed reforms said in an interview published Wednesday that the Catholic church should drop its celibacy requirement for priests.
Eisenstadt Bishop Paul Iby told Die Presse daily that it should be up to priests to decide whether they want to live a celibate life and that he would welcome it if married men could be ordained.
“It should be at the discretion of every priest whether to live in voluntary celibacy or in a family,” Die Presse quoted Iby as saying.
Iby, who offered to retire when he turned 75 in January, also said that eventually the ordination of women should be considered.
Iby added that discrimination against homosexuals should be avoided and suggested that divorcees be allowed to have a new relationship blessed after a period of penitence.
“Rome is too timid with such things,” Iby said.
When asked to comment on recent sex abuse allegations against Austrian clergy, Iby said such claims need to be dealt with by state authorities and added that he could never have imagined the current magnitude of the matter.
