An American married father of six has been given permission to become a Roman Catholic priest. The Diocese of Rochester in New York says the 49-year-old former protestant minister is getting a "special exception" to the celibacy rule from Pope Benedict.
Scott Caton is a former Baptist minister.
He became a Catholic 12 years ago and this has been a 10-year journey.
Caton's request for ordination as a priest was approved by the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and then by the Pope.
The church says this permission reflects a still rare - but allowable - exception to the celibacy rule.
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