Canberra Auxiliary Bishop Pat Power has questioned current Church discipline that has the effect of denying regular access to the Eucharist saying that it's time for a less "clerical" understanding of the priesthood.The bishop has written to the organisers of a petition calling for the ordination of married men to the priesthood, Paul Collins and Frank Purcell.
He suggested the heart of the issue is the link between the local Church and the universal Church.
He said he'd nominated this as a possible subject for the last Synod in Rome, but received little support.
Bishop Power said: "Unless diocesan bishops are allowed to exercise the powers intrinsic to their office, many urgent questions will be neglected."
He also said that a less clerical model of priesthood would foster the participation of women in the leadership of the Church.
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