Bishop calls for priests to be allowed marry

The Bishop of Killaloe Willie Walsh has called on the Catholic Church to allow priests to marry.

In an interview published in this morning’s Sunday Tribune, Bishop Walsh said that there was room for both married and celibate priests in the church and that he believes this might happen in the future.

He said the institution needs to have a debate on marriage, and its whole understanding of sexuality.

Ten years ago Bishop Brendan Comiskey made similar calls. On that occasion he was summoned to Rome to explain himself.

Bishop Walsh said that the celibacy rule has led to many priests leaving the priesthood to pursue relationships, and that they have been a great loss to the church.

He believes it is possible priests will be marrying in the future, pointing out that the present crisis in the church could lead to a new beginning.