To the leadership of the Catholic Church,

The requirement of mandatory clerical celibacy should be abolished.

Scripture does not require clergy to remain unmarried, and passages such as First Epistle to Timothy 4:3 are interpreted by many Christians as affirming the freedom of marriage rather than restricting it.

The Church should recognize forcing individuals to remain celibate when they desire marriage can create unnecessary psychological, emotional, and pastoral burdens. It can also limit vocational participation in ministry by discouraging otherwise qualified believers who feel called both to pastoral service and to marriage.

Allowing ones the freedom to marry would honor the sanctity of marriage as a Christian institution, support healthier clergy wellbeing, and expand opportunities for ministry within the Church.

This petition calls for the complete ending of mandatory clerical celibacy and the restoration of marriage freedom for clergy who desire it.