MILWAUKEE — Catholic priests in at least five dioceses will likely follow the lead of priests in Milwaukee and ask church leaders to open a discussion on mandatory celibacy, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
Local priests groups in New York, Chicago, Boston, Pittsburgh and southern Illinois said they will circulate letters to their bishops asking them to consider allowing married priests to help ease the clergy shortage across the country.
“I would expect strong support,” said Larry Dowling, a member of the Association of Chicago Priests. “There is a need for dialogue with the bishops and this is a way to push that.”
The five dioceses include some of the nation’s largest, as well as the Diocese of Belleville, Ill., whose bishop, Wilton Gregory, is president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
On Aug. 19 more than 160 Milwaukee priests mailed a letter to Gregory that said “the Catholic Church needs more candidates for the priesthood, so that the church’s sacramental life might continue to flourish.”
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