In a letter to Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) urged the bishops in the United States to request a “serious ecclesial review of mandatory celibacy for diocesan priests.” The request stems from a two-year project developed by VOTF’s Priest Support Working Group. The project examines the current state of the priesthood and how the problems faced by priests impact the laity.

Cardinal O’Malley chairs the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The letter calls on the committee to consider the review in light of a 60% drop in vocations to the priesthood during the past 40 years.

For many young men, the letter notes, “the requirement of celibacy is a major obstacle preventing them from responding to a call to the priesthood.” The solutions currently pursued in response to the reduced number of priests are not sufficient. “Recruiting non-native priests from poor countries, substituting communion services for Mass, lowering standards for admission to seminaries,” and an increase in parish closings and the use of one priest to serve as pastor for multiple parishes fail to address the root of the problem, the letter notes.

The Priest Support Working Group of VOTF hopes to open a dialogue among bishops, priests, and laity that considers both the charism of celibacy – which is a unique gift when it is freely embraced – as well as the negative effects of imposing the discipline
as a requirement for priestly ministry.

For more information about the letter by the Priest Support Working Group or Voice of the Faithful, please email Jessica at votfpr@votf.org or call 617-558-5252