Scottish Roman Catholic Church Ordains First Married Priest

History was made this week in the Roman Catholic Church of Scotland, as the first married priest was ordained on Tuesday under a special dispensation from the Pope for the vow of celibacy.

In the mass, which saw around 300 in the congregation, the 64-year-old Reverend James Bell, officially entered the Catholic priesthood at St Mary’s Church in Inverness.

As a former Church of England and Scottish Episcopal Church priest, Father James Bell said that he was awakened by the agenda of women bishops, which has come to the forefront of issues in the Anglican Church over recent years.

Women bishop consecration is currently being debated among worldwide Anglicans and has caused a bitter rift within the Church. Since the first woman priest was ordained in 1994, women and human rights supporters have been petitioning to allow women to serve in an even higher post.

With a profound sense of thanksgiving for the privilege that he has been accepted to serve as a married priest, Father James Bell said, "The way that the debate on the ordination of women was conducted was a real eye-opener. The arguments [against] were not being heard. Many felt the Anglican Church was now something which made reconciliation with Rome impossible and there were those of us who felt it would be better to make our own reconciliation."

He continued, "I believe the Church of England has to find a cure for its internal divisions before it can really enter into external ecumenical dialogue."

Peter Moran, the Bishop of Aberdeen, who ordained Father James Bell, was quoted by the Scotsman newsaper, "Clearly this is something very new and unusual for us. It is not the first instance in Scotland of a married former Anglican working as a Catholic priest, but it seems to be the first instance of such a candidate being ordained to the priesthood in Scotland."

According to the Scottish Catholic Media Office, he expressed his warm welcome to the new priest, "Ordaining a priest is always a privilege and a joy for any bishop."

"A privilege because the bishop is passing on sacred power which he himself received at his own ordination and a joy because the new priest will be a colleague and a brother, sharing in the bishop’s pastoral task of caring for the ‘flock’."

He further explained that the Diocese of Aberdeen including Orkney, Shetland and most of the Highlands have relatively few priests to cover such a vast area. Therefore he said, "Even one additional priest is a wonderful boost to the morale of his colleagues."

A Church of England spokesman said, "We wish him well in his new ministry. It is also important to realise that there is two-way traffic between the two churches."