CELIBACY LAW Limited Change By Pope Suggested

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32215, 6 February 1970, Page 4

CELIBACY LAW Limited Change By Pope Suggested

W.Z. Press Assn —Copyrioht) VATICAN CITY, Feb. 4. Pope Paul yesterday raised for the first time the possibility of a limited but historic change in the Roman Catholic Church’s 900-year-old law on celibacy for priests, United Press International reported. The Pope suggested that the only change he would be; willing to consider in the law would be to allow married: men of mature age and good reputation to become priests, in certain areas of the world where there were extreme shortages of priests. He voiced “grave reservations” about making such a change and expressed worry over whether it would be possible to limit the change to local cases of extreme necessity. United Press International I reported that Monsignor Fau-: |sto Vallianc, the Vatican: jpress spokesman, said that he believed the Pope was re-

ferring primarily to Latin America in raising the possibility of ordaining married men for certain areas. “Above all, this possibility does not concern the Netherlands,” be said. In Utrecht, the Dutch Roman Catholic bishops tonight welcomed the offer made by Pope Paul to discuss the question of celibacy for priests. ’ A statement issued by the i secretariat of the Dutch : bishops conference said the bishops appreciated the offer and “they hope that this consultation will lead to good results.”