SYNODAL TIDBITS

As Synod 2018 nears its conclusion this Sunday, some reports of interventions are being made public, even if reluctantly so.

A bid by Belgium Bishops to allow young married men to be Ordained fell flat at the Synod on Youth.

The suggestion of easing the rules on celibacy was raised by the Auxiliary Bishop of Brussels, Jean Kockerols. It appeared to have fallen on deaf ears — at least officially.

"There were no reactions" to that, or any of the "daring proposals" that made newspaper headlines during the synod, French bishop Emmanuel Gobillard stated.

The 330 Bishops, male Religious Superiors and lay people taking part in the talks, which end Sunday, had gathered to address the thorny issue of how to make the Roman Catholic Church appeal to youngsters.

"I am disappointed by the lack of reaction. One Bishop compared it to stalactites that take a long time to grow," Bishop Kockerols said. 

"Numerous Bishops sought me out during coffee breaks, saying 'you are right, we should be heading in that direction,' but I notice the subject was never looked into in the working groups.”

The number of Priests and Religious dropped sharply in 2016 in Europe — and  in the Americas to a lesser extent. The picture is rosier in Africa and Asia.

Pope Francis has repeatedly said, there is no doctrinal prohibition on married men becoming priests, and therefore the discipline can be changed.

Celibacy was imposed in the 11th century, possibly partly to prevent descendants of Priests from inheriting Church property. But some within the Church believe it is time to join many Eastern Rite Catholic Churches in permitting married men to be Ordained.

Married Anglican priests keen to convert to Catholicism have already been welcomed over.

Some 60,000 priests have given up their vocation over the past few decades, often to marry, according to a book on the topic presented a stone's throw from the Vatican during the Synod.

There were 414,000 Roman Catholic priests around the world in 2016. Some 1,000 of them are quitting each year, according to the book by Enzo Romeo.

While there are no official statistics on the number of married ex-priests, he estimates that there are around 8,000 of them in Italy alone.

Pope Francis suggested in 2017 that the Church "reflect" on the question of ordaining "viri probati", married men of proven virtue, particularly in far-flung places where Priests are thin on the ground.  The idea is likely to be on the table at a synod next year dedicated specially to the Amazon, an immense territory where clergy are scarce.

Sensing a possible shift in attitude, some 300 or so married, former Priests in Italy sent a letter to Pope Francis at the start of October offering their  service once more should he need them.

For now, both Pope Francis and the Synodal Fathers have seen fit not to consider the question nor their offer seriously.