Pope Francis and liberal bishops could decide on future Catholic priests

Starting Sunday through October 26, Pope Francis and a handful of some of the most liberal U.S. bishops, are meeting in Rome about needs of the Amazon, like when Catholics need to be buried, married, baptized or even go to confession and receive communion.

Currently nuns read the liturgy, but can't perform duties of a priest.

The Catholic League President Bill Donohue said this might happen in small areas like the Amazon, where there is no other option.

"I can see them saying, 'Well, in these remote areas of the world, if there are people who are regarded as almost sanctified by their own people, we should use them as a kind of a substitute for the priest'. I don't see how they can just call them ordained priests because they don't have any training. They know nothing about the sacraments," said Donohue.

He said a lot of eyebrows are being raised if that small group decides if Catholic priests can be unmarried in remote areas.

Conservative Catholic’s fear is allowing married men to become priests in remote areas could pave the way to the abolition of celibacy.

"A lot of people are looking at this with an awful lot of skepticism. In the Catholic Church today, you have those who are very orthodox and those who are extremely liberal. And they have, quite frankly, have very little in common," said Donohue.

He questioned if this is the right process to make such changes and how far will this go.

He said the Catholic Church has gotten itself into a bit of a bind. It's not unprecedented because there are Anglican priests who are married and converted to Catholicism.


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