Press release 21 May 2026
In light of the media discussions surrounding Vienna Cathedral's parish priest Toni Faber and his repeated appearances with a woman at his side, Austrian church reform movements are calling for an honest discussion about the unfortunate obligation of celibacy for Roman Catholic priests and urge objectivity and sincerity.
The problem is not celibacy itself, but the obligation to it: Any man who wants to become a priest in the Roman Catholic Church today must commit to celibacy. However, the example of many married pastoral workers (pastoral and parish assistants, deacons, etc.) shows that partnership and family do not harm pastoral ministry, but on the contrary, can be very beneficial. And there are even married priests who converted to the Catholic Church from other Christian denominations and received an official dispensation from celibacy: They live their priesthood in full view of the world with their wives and children! If priesthood and married life are not mutually exclusive in the case of these converted priests, why should it be any different for men who have always been Roman Catholic?
The Catholic Church has been carrying the burden of its self-imposed celibacy law, which is not even half as old as the Church itself, for centuries. There have been repeated significant attempts to abolish the obligation of celibacy. The 1995 Church Referendum, which was signed by half a million people in Austria alone, demanded that priests have a free choice between a celibate and a non-celibate lifestyle, and the 2019 Amazon Synod in Rome spoke in favour of the ordination of married men as priests. Unfortunately, Pope Francis, amidst conservative resistance, did not have the courage to take this important step.
The consequences of the celibacy requirement are devastating here as well: Empty seminaries, deserted parish houses, and ever fewer Eucharists at Sunday services. The worst consequence, however, is the double standard that has gripped our Church, leading to a dramatic loss of credibility: Whenever a priest openly acknowledges a relationship with a woman, even publicly, he must fear for his office; but if he lives his relationship somewhat secretly and without public confession, it is readily overlooked. That's not what honesty looks like. And people know it.
It is high time to abolish the unfortunate celibacy requirement for priests.
In any case, it was only introduced in 1139 and has since been, in many eras and countries, often more of a theoretical construct than a lived practice. Above all, celibacy was never a dogma and isn't one today either; it merely takes the form of a church law that, just as it was introduced, could easily be abolished again. Better today than tomorrow.
Harald Prinz, We Are Church: Love is not only a human need, but also a Christian value. Why should it be any different for Catholic priests?
Peter Gardowsky, Priests Without Office: Celibacy and the celibacy debate are causing enormous damage to the Church. We have so many more important tasks!
Helmut Schüler, Priests' Initiative: Priests should be able to decide for or against marriage just like any other person.
Martha Heizer, We Are Church: Pastoral competence must be more important than the priest's lifestyle. Relationship skills are an important criterion for a priest.
Thomas Plankensteiner, We Are Church: Even the 8th Commandment demands truthfulness and credibility. In this respect, most parishes are already much further ahead: By a clear majority of their members, they accept a priest who is known to be in a relationship.
The Leadership Team of Kirchenreform.AT
Helmut Schüller, Pfarrer-Initiative,
Gidi Außerhofer, Pfarrer-Initiative,
Wolfgang Payrich, Pfarrer-Initiative,
Herbert Bartl, Priester ohne Amt,
Peter Gardowsky, Priester ohne Amt,
Harald Niederhuber, Laien-Initiative,
Thomas Olechowksi, Laien-Initiative,
Astrid Krogger, Wir sind Kirche,
Martha Heizer, Wir sind Kirche,
Harald Prinz, Wir sind Kirche,