Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has stated in a recent interview that lessening the mandatory celibacy rule for priests would be disastrous and add up to “attack on the Church and her mystery”.

Ahead of the publication of  the English edition of his book; From the Depths of Our Hearts: Priesthood, Celibacy and the Crisis of the Catholic Church, the Prelate explains he and Benedict wrote the piece to caution the separation of celibacy from the priesthood which he believes would make the order a “mere human institution.”

The Guinean Cardinal in advance of next Wednesday’s release of Pope Francis’ post-apostolic exhortation on the Pan-Amazon synod also explains how the exception  proposed at the synod is different to previous exceptions and the situation with the Eastern Churches, and notes that even when there were married priests in the early Church, they lived chaste lives.

Cardinal Sarah also emphasizes on what he sees as one of the most serious problems facing the priesthood today: lack of apostolic fervor in the Church and lukewarmness and radical discipleship and priests who are “radically saints”.

Source: Radio Angelus