Pope Francis declined Wednesday to approve the ordination of married men to address the priest shortage in the Amazon, sidestepping a fraught issue that has dominated debate in the Catholic Church and even involved retired Pope Benedict XVI. In an eagerly awaited document, Francis didn’t even refer to recommendations by Amazonian bishops to consider the ordination of married men and female deacons. AdvertisementGroups that advocate for women’s ordination and giving women greater roles in the Catholic Church blasted the document. The Catholic Church retains the priesthood for men, arguing that Christ and his apostles were male. In his document, Francis said indigenous practices and symbols should not be written off immediately as superstition, paganism or idolatry.

Source: Los Angeles Times February 12, 2020 11:22 UTC