Priests seek optional orthodoxy

(Roto Reuters) A group of active and retired priests are asking for optional orthodoxy for new priests. A letter signed by about 85 people was sent to the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. These and similar letters have been sent by other groups of priests across the nation.

According to sources the letter asks that orthodoxy be optional, not mandatory, for candidates for the Roman Catholic priesthood.

The reverend Erik Tic said that the signers of the letter are concerned about there being to few priests to celebrate Mass and to meet the pastoral needs of their communities. "In this society it is unrealistic to demand orthodoxy for those desiring to be priests. It is just not natural to force priests to do something that the majority of the faithful eschews. By opening up the church via optional orthodoxy we will at least double the number of applicants. Many of us have already been practicing optional orthodoxy and optional obedience, so we would just like the Church hierarchy to acknowledge those trends already present in the Church."