Advent Group (UK) - Support Group for Priests & Religious since 1969
Pope says married men could be ordained priests if world's bishops agree on it
- Created: 11 April 2014 11 April 2014
A bishop who met with Pope Francis in a rare private audience on 4 April has said in an interview that the two men discussed the issue of the ordination of “proven” married men – viri probati – in a serious and positive way.
Bishop Erwin Kräutler, Bishop of Xingu in the Brazilian rainforest, spoke to the Pope about Francis’ forthcoming encyclical on the environment, and the treatment of indigenous peoples but the desperate shortage of priests in the bishop’s huge diocese came up in the conversation. According to an interview the Austrian-born bishop gave to the daily Salzburger Nachrichten on 5 April, the Pope was open-minded about finding solutions to the problem, saying that bishops’ conferences could have a decisive role.
Read more: Pope says married men could be ordained priests if world's bishops agree on it
Celibacy, the Eucharist and the People of God
- Created: 08 February 2006 08 February 2006
Read more: Celibacy, the Eucharist and the People of God
Welcome to Advent
- Created: 15 October 2004 15 October 2004
Advent began in 1969 as a support group for priests and religious, both men and women, in the Catholic Church who had left the official ministry, or religious life. Members meet to share experiences and to offer mutual support. Some have married, others have remained single. The group also offers support for partners and families, and constitutes a renewal group to bring about changes in the priestly ministry of the Church.
Advent offers advice, support and a friendly ear. All individual contacts are treated in complete confidence.
Remember, we are not attempting to entice people out of the ministry or religious life: just trying to help them if they feel in conscience that God wants them somewhere else. Things can get very tough for them.
TODAY...Advent continues to offer support, both practical and emotional, as well as a forum for matters of justice that surround the issue of compulsory celibacy.