Push for Married Greek Cath. Priests in US Grows; Church Leaders Ask Vatican to OK Married Priests

Top Catholic and Orthodox church officials in North America are calling on the Vatican to let married men become priests in Greek Catholic (Eastern Rite) churches, the Catholic News website reports today (June 10, 2014).

Eastern Catholic churches are similar to Eastern Orthodox churches, but are loyal to Rome and fall under the Pope's jurisdiction. Like Eastern Orthodox churches, Eastern Rite Catholics have particular liturgies and customs that date back to their origins in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

One of those customs is optional celibacy. While Eastern rite Catholic bishops cannot be married, the priesthood is open to married men. The main exception has been in North America, where a 1929 decree by the Vatican barred married clergy in Eastern rite churches.

The move was spurred by concerns among Catholic leaders of the much larger Catholic Church in the U.S. that having married priests in Eastern Catholic churches would prompt Roman Catholics to demand a similar practice.

The current request to the Vatican for Greek Catholic priests in North America to be allowed to be married may have been sparked by Pope Francis' statement on May 26, 2014 -- while on his flight back to Rome from the Holy Land -- when he told reporters "the door is always open" on the question of Catholic priests being married.