In Berlin, Germany, A Catholic church ordained a married man with two sons last Tuesday after he received an exemption to priestly celibacy that was given to him by Pope Benedict XVI.
According to the the Diocese of Cologne, A former Protestant pastor and a theologian, Harm Klueting will not have to adhere the celibacy law of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) for the duration of his marriage.
The case was enlightened a known 60 year old Roman Catholic church law that allows ordained clergy form onother Christian believer for a person to become a priest.
Diocese spokesman Christoph Heckeley said “This happens seldom but it’s not unusual,”
Klueting, 61 year old, became a Catholic in 2004 after which he rendered service as a deacon and thought religious history at universities in Switzerland and Germany. Currently teaching at the the University of Cologne where he will aslo serve a a priest.
Last year in Regensburg, Southern Germany, a married father of four was also aordained as a priest.
The ordination of Klueting comes as Catholic politicians and theologians have forced the Vatican to end priestly celibacy and the German churches battles to beat the wave of priest shortages and clerical sex abuse scandals.
First ordinariate for disaffected Anglicans in England and Wales this year, was also launched by the Roman Catholic Church.
Five traditionalist Church of England bishops have agreed to join the ordinariate, a Church subdivision keeping some Anglican traditions, and lamost 30 groups of parishioners will come, leaders of the church told the journalist.