The Roman Catholic Church is suffering a shortage of priests and Pope Francis is willing to be open to married men becoming ordained as priests.
The Pope has mentioned that the shortness on priests in the Catholic churches is becoming a big problem. Roman Catholic Churches have priests vow celibacy because they believe priests should not marry since they are to act in person of Christ.
However, the Pope is willing to consider changing the rules governing the eligibility for priesthood by having a study conducted on whether older men are heavily involved in duties within the bishopric so they could be ordained. These married men are to be tested to see if they have outstanding faith and virtue.
There is a difference between priests marrying and allowing a married priest. In this case, a priest who is already granted the title of priest will not be allowed to marry. Older men who are married will just be ordained as a priest to deliver the sacraments.
Some Roman Catholic Churches have ordained married men to priest or converted other married priests to Catholic priests. Then there are the Eastern Catholic Churches which maintain their tradition of having married priest.
But there are some factors to consider when ordaining married men or converting married priest. One of those factors to consider is the finances. Priest accommodations and expenses are supported by the local parishes. Now, if there is a married priest who has kids and a wife there is an increase in expenditures which means there must be an increase in the local parishes given.
Rural areas are one of the places where the shortage of priests is more visible since there are not enough priests for each parish.
Since the celibacy is not a solution to the problem of this shortage, the Pope is willing to look for other methods for providing priests to the parishes in great need of priests.
