Cardinal-elect Questions Church Stance on Controversial Issues
Sept 18, 2004
Archbishop Keith O'Brien of Aberdeen, Scotland, who was named by Pope John Paul II to become a cardinal, used a Mass of thanksgiving as an occasion to question Church teaching and discipline regarding contraception, homosexuality, and clerical celibacy.
(CWNews.com, 2 October 2003) - Archbishop O'Brien, who is to become only the third Scottish cardinal since the Reformation, said that the Church should re-examine her teaching regarding contraception. He said that he assumed a large number of Catholic priests are homosexual, and is not troubled by that fact if they maintain their vows of celibacy.
But he also questioned whether the discipline of priestly celibacy is necessary, pointing out that "throughout the world there are married priests and in England there are a number of converts from Anglicanism who are married and who became Roman Catholic priests."
Cardinal-elect Questions Church Stance on Controversial Issues