A third of the Roman Catholic priests polled by a newspaper in the southern Dutch province of Limburg have indicated that they believe the rules surrounding celibacy should be made more flexible. The provincial Dutch daily De Limburger reported that it contacted 30 of the 200 priests in the province following remarks made by a leading priest in the region that he knew many colleagues who had left the church because of the celibacy rules.
The priest, Father Fons Kurris, who will be celebrating his 50th year with the Catholic Church this week, says he knows many colleagues who “could not resist temptation” and decided to leave the church.
“This has led to the departure of a number of good priests” he argued.
Several of the priests interviewed by the newspaper indicated that, apart from being in favour of opening their profession to married men, they also think the ministry should be open to women.
Frans Wiertz, the Bishop of Limburg, does not share their views. He is unwilling to have a debate about celibacy.
Burden
Father Kurris is not alone in his pleas for flexible rules on celibacy.
Earlier last month former Father Gerrit Poels explained to Dutch daily BN/De Stem that he believes that celibacy is too heavy a burden for priests.
"Celibacy has lead to a certain amount of resentment with some of my acquaintances," he told the paper.
Mr Poels left celibate life a long time ago and pleads for voluntary and temporary celibacy.
"There are positive sides to celibacy too," he argues, "If you make it bearable, men that choose to be celibate can really flourish in such a period."
Loneliness
"Priests who have a relationship often tell me that they are unable to handle the loneliness and lack of affection anymore," Adrie de Jong, chairwomen of the Magdala foundation, told BN/De Stem.
The Magdala Foundation is a Dutch organisation for women who are in a relationship with a priest.
In 2003, the foundation joined up with a number of European sister organisations and filed a petition in which they asked the bishops to consider voluntary celibacy.
Frans Wiertz, the Bishop of Limburg, says he is unwilling to have a debate about celibacy.
“I follow Rome in this matter” he told the paper.
Just as in other parts of the world, the Catholic church has been under fire in the Netherlands in recent weeks because of the growing number of reports of child sex abuse committed within Catholic institutions throughout the country. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Disclaimer
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