Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn certainly can imagine discussing celibacy. “This is certainly not a dramatic topic, it will and can be talked about”, he said on Sunday night in “ZiB2” – when asked about the statements of Pope Francisaccording to which he considers celibacy subject to review.
“I don’t know the whole interview,” Schönborn said with some reluctance, but: “What Francis said, I’ve also said hundreds of times: celibacy is a law of the Church, not a divine right.”
Two days ago, Pope Francis reminded Argentine news portal Infobae that married men are allowed as priests in the Eastern Catholic Church. “There is no contradiction in the fact that a priest can marry,” said the 86-year-old. So when asked if celibacy is subject to revision, Francis replied that it is. He explained that celibacy in the Western Church is a “temporary requirement” and therefore “interim” – in contrast, for example, to priesthood ordination “forever”.