Comments about ‘British cardinal says married Catholic priests a possibility’

They don't have much of a choice.

Let priests marry. This will allow them to serve in
their chosen way without giving up so much
personal happiness.

I think that it would be a good decision. But it is their call.

There have been papal statements saying the same thing. The real issue for the Catholic Church is financial. Priests are not paid very much and are provided a place to stay in a small room in the local church they serve. If they get married and have families, it would be a lot more costly to maintain a priesthood.

There are some married Catholic priests--those that transitioned from the Anglican tradition. I have wondered if that isn't a trial.

The recent Catholic use of the office of deacon may be means of solving the problem of not enough priests. These are called "Permanent Deacons." They have their own employment and serve part-time in the Catholic Church. They can be married and have families. They have no claim on a salary, but many dioceses do provide them a modest stipend. They aren't allowed to do everything a priest can do, but they can do a lot--even serve as a "parochial administrator" over a local church. As the numbers entering the priesthood drop and become more financially a burden to maintain, the use of permanent deacons has been increasing.