Catholic bishops back ordaining married men
VATICAN CITY 27 Oct (ANA) - Roman Catholic bishops have voted to allow married men to become priests in the Amazon region, exempting them from the centuries-old rule on celibacy.
The vote came at the end of a Vatican assembly on the Amazon, where there is a severe shortage of priests.
For the proposal to take effect, it must be backed by Pope Francis, who is due to make his position clear soon.
Traditionalists fear a slippery slope to married priests throughout the Church, diluting its unique character.
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The vote was taken at a three-week assembly, known as a synod, of some 180 bishops in Rome. It also looked at the role of women in the Church's work, and environmental issues.
The Catholic Church is the oldest institution in the Western world, tracing its history back almost 2,000 years, and counts more than a billion members.(ANA)
FA/ANA/27 October 2019-----