The Vatican insists celibacy is not responsible and has defended it as nonnegotiable, even as the number of priests around the world continues to decline.
A spokesman for Archbishop Andre-Mutien Leonard, the head of Belgium’s Roman Catholic Church, said in reaction to the two bishops’ comments that any discussion of structural issues surrounding the church should be held at a global level and not be limited to Belgium.
Pope Benedict XVI has staunchly defended celibacy, saying in June that it is a “great sign of faith.’’
However, in Belgium and other countries, celibacy has been linked to the shortage of new priests in Europe’s parishes and to the sex abuse scandal.
Even though the Hasselt bishop said that abolishing celibacy would not solve the problem of abuse, he did see a possibility for married priests to serve alongside those who vow celibacy.
“I can imagine two sorts of priesthood. Those who live celibately and those who have a relationship — are married,’’ Hoogmartens told VRT radio.
Over the weekend, the new Bruges bishop questioned whether the church should stick to mandatory celibacy. “People for whom celibacy is humanly impossible should also have a chance to become a priest,’’ he said.
De Kesel became Bruges bishop after his predecessor, Roger Vangheluwe, admitted that he had sexually abused a nephew for years when he was a priest and bishop. Vangheluwe was forced to resign in April.
In a report released in Belgium this month, hundreds of sex abuse victims disclosed harrowing accounts of molestation by Catholic clergy in the country over the past 50 years.
The Belgian church then acknowledged widespread sexual abuse over the years by its clergy, and pleaded for time to set up a system to punish all abusers and provide closure for victims.
Leonard’s spokesman, Juergen Mettepenningen, said the celibacy stand of the two bishops should be taken in the context of the current abuse scandal. But he insisted that both bishops put an emphasis on the need to care for abuse victims first, saying Leonard also considers that the church’s priority now.
Leonard has promised to open a center for victims and promised to refer new cases to the law enforcement officials.
