Catholic Church
Cardinal Marx demands: Priests should be allowed to marry
Considers the celibate way of life to be “precarious”: Munich’s Cardinal Reinhard Marx
© Sven Hoppe / DPA
For years, the church has been shaken by abuse scandals. Cardinal Marx from Munich does not want to rule out that the topic has a connection to the obligation to be celibate. He advocates that Catholic priests should be allowed to marry in the future.
This statement by a high dignitary will still have explosive power for the Catholic Church in 2022. Cardinal Marx from Munich has spoken out in favor of priests being allowed to marry in the future, meaning that compulsory celibacy will be abolished. “It would be better for everyone to create the opportunity for celibate and married priests,” said Marx the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. And further: “I don’t think it can go on like it is now.”
The cardinal even described the celibate way of life as “precarious”. “Some priests would be better off if they were married. Not just for sexual reasons, but because it would be better for their lives and they wouldn’t be lonely. We have to have these discussions,” said Marx. “And some will say: If we no longer have compulsory celibacy, everyone will marry now! My answer is: And if they do! If everyone marries, that would be a real sign that things are not working well.”
Cardinal Marx: Catholic sexual morality with “many deadlocks”
When asked if he saw a connection between celibacy and the countless cases of child sexual abuse that have shaken the Church for years, Marx replied that one could not say in general. “But this way of life and this male alliance also attracts people who are not suitable, who are sexually immature. And sexuality is just part of the human being, and that never goes away.” Catholic sexual morals have “created many deadlocks”.
When asked if he was also for women priests, the 68-year-old dignitary did not answer. “I can’t answer that yet. It wouldn’t be helpful to answer it now either, because it’s part of keeping us in touch,” Marx told the newspaper. “Not only am I someone who has an opinion, I also have to keep the store together,” he said.
“Hope” on a word of sympathy from Benedict
Marx said to the emeritus Pope Benedict, who was asked by the chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference, Georg Bätzing, to apologize for his behavior in the abuse scandal: “I don’t want to make a demand through the media, but express a hope. That he , as announced, expressed comprehensively. And that the declaration also contains a good word of sympathy with those affected.”