Third Synod of Bishops Debated Celibacy and Ordination of Married Men

The Third Synod of Bishops in 1971 featured discussions regarding celibacy and the potential ordination of married men within the Latin Church. While nearly all prelates acknowledged the spiritual value of celibacy, they disagreed on whether the Latin Church could maintain it as a norm while allowing exceptions for the ordination of men who were already married.

The synodal debate focused on two distinct issues. The first was whether the obligation of celibacy should be maintained for those aspiring to the presbyterate in the Latin Church. The second was whether married men of mature age and proven life could be ordained due to grave pastoral needs. This second possibility did not include allowing a celibate priest to marry after his ordination.

Participants noted that Eastern Catholic Churches legitimately maintain a clergy composed of both celibates and men who married before ordination, although bishops are typically chosen from celibates or monks. Consequently, informed participants did not claim that marriage and priestly ordination were sacramentally incompatible. The discussion centered on the convenience of modifying Latin Church discipline and the resulting consequences of such an exception.

Cardinal Leo Joseph Suenens, Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, advocated for a broad opening. He argued that bishops have a duty to provide necessary ministers to communities and that uniform ecclesiastical legislation should not block suitable candidates. He proposed moving beyond a pastoral organization centered solely on territorial parishes, suggesting that concrete human communities could present candidates from their own environment, including married men. He cited the right of the faithful to the Eucharist and the right of Christ to communicate sacramentally with his people.

Other prelates held intermediate positions. Coptic Catholic Patriarch Cardinal Stefano I Sidarouss defended the value of celibacy but recognized the Eastern tradition of ordaining mature, exemplary married men, concluding that this possibility should remain open in the East but not in the Latin Church. Cardinal Joseph Höffner stated that celibacy is not essentially linked to the priesthood but serves as a sign of total surrender to Christ. Cardinal William Conway considered limited expansion to certain countries but concluded it would eventually lead to optional celibacy throughout the Latin Church.

Most participants opposed the ordination of married men. Representing the Venezuelan episcopate, Monsignor Luis Eduardo Henríquez Jiménez argued the measure would not solve the lack of vocations and would create two categories of priests. Cardinal Angelo Dell'Acqua defended the Latin praxis, though he accepted the ordination of widowers, arguing that obligations to a wife and children could compete with full ministerial availability.