In an interview with "kath.ch" (Sunday) the theologian wonders why the bishops who voted in favour of ordination at the synod in favour of the ordination of "viri probati" did not ask the Pope for an indult, a special authorisation, for Amazonia: "If the Amazon bishops were joined by five Swiss bishops and 20 bishops from other European countries, then I would like to see how Francis reacts."
In principle, the church historian sees three possibilities for a change to the current law: a general regulation for the universal church, an indult for a church province or individual dioceses or dispensations for individual cases.
A request for an indult is a logical consequence of the deliberations at the Amazon Synod, in which 80 per cent of the bishops voted in favour of the ordination of married men, the theologian says.
"The bishops have to do their job. If the bishops don't ask for an indult, they don't have to complain that they are trampling on Jesus' commandment to celebrate the Eucharist as often as possible in his memory. Can a church law really be more important to bishops who believe what they proclaim than a commandment of Jesus?" Wolf continued.
Due to the shortage of priests, the connection between pastoral care and sacramentality is being lost more and more: "The Sunday obligation that is repeatedly insisted upon has the flipside of a right for the faithful to celebrate the Eucharist in their church. And the bishop is obliged to ensure that this is possible."
The ordination of married people and the marriage of those already ordained is entirely compatible with tradition.
The church historian points out that it was only with the codification of canon law in 1917 that marriage became a definitive obstacle to ordination.
Until then, married people could have asked for ordination in principle.
In the consultations prior to the reform, Cardinal Pietro Gasparri, the Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for the Codification of Canon Law, expressly pointed out that this was an innovation in canon law.
Today, it is still possible and customary in the Eastern Catholic Churches to ordain married men as priests.
The reverse case, the marriage of priests, is more difficult. Since the Second Lateran Council (1139) ordination has been an impediment to marriage, explains Wolf.
"But until 1139, the marriage of those already ordained was also part of our tradition."