Pope Francis, in one of the most significant decisions of his papacy, appears to have bowed to conservative pressure and dismissed a proposal to use married men to offset dwindling numbers of priests.
Emer McCarthy reports.
Pope nixes proposal to let married men be priests
In one of the most significant decisions of his papacy, and an apparent bow to pressure from more conservative Catholics, Pope Francis has dismissed a proposal to allow married men to become priests.
The idea has been long debated, specifically targeted at remote regions of the Amazon, as a way to offset a growing shortage of priests there.
The recommendation was put forward by Latin American bishops.
Reuters Vatican correspondent Philip Pullella: (SOUNDBITE) (English) REUTERS CORRESPONDENT, PHILIP PULLELLA, SAYING: "Conservatives were very, very concerned about this because they fear it would begin a slippery slope towards the abolition of celibacy as a rule in the Catholic Church.
So, they would be very happy today because the pope essentially dismissed this proposal by not mentioning it at all in this document, it's just not there.
It would have been a revolutionary suggestion or at least the start of a revolution and so the pope, he just didn't go there.
He just didn't mention it at all in the document, so effectively dismissing it at least for now." Eighty-two-year-old Francis delivered his response three months after the proposal passed by 128 votes to 41 at a synod of Roman Catholic bishops.
The pope wrote that new ways must be found to encourage more priests to work in the remote region, and allow expanded roles for lay people and permanent deacons -- or ordained ministers.
Michael Czerny is a cardinal.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) CARDINAL, MICHAEL CZERNY, SAYING: ''There will be many ways of responding to the needs for the eucharist and the sacraments throughout the Amazon.
And this will be an important revitalization of the whole church life in the region." Married men can become deacons and can preach and baptize, but they cannot say Mass.