By doing so, the priests joined clergy from the Milwaukee Archdiocese and the Diocese of New Ulm, Minnesota, who have written similar letters.

Three of the signers of the letter from the Albany Diocese are members of religious orders; the remainder are diocesan clergy. Most are active priests, but some retired clergy also signed. The signers represent about one-fifth of the approximately 390 priests in the Diocese.

Eucharistic concern

Rev. Dominic Ingemie, chair of the Albany Diocese's Priestly Life and Ministry Council, oversaw the letter's creation. He is also pastor of St. James Church in Albany. He pointed out that married priests have long been allowed in Eastern-rite Catholic parishes, such as Ukrainian or Maronite churches.

The Albany priests' main reason for writing the letter, he said, is that "the effect of not having enough priests is that you affect the ability of the Church to celebrate Eucharist. In many parts of the country, there are just not enough priests for the congregations. We're feeling the pinch here, too."

The Eucharist, he said, is "central to our faith. We should do all we can to make that possible to all communities." If not, "we're denying something that is central to the Church."

Signers

Father Ingemie said that Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, who did not sign the letter, was aware that it was written and received a copy. Among the signers were:

* diocesan officials -- Rev. Kenneth Doyle, diocesan chancellor for public information; and Rev. L. Edward Deimeke, administrative advocate for priests;

* the current and former rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany -- Rev. William Pape and Msgr. John Jones; and

* the assistant director of the National Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville -- Rev. John Paret, SJ.

Discussion asked

The National Federation of Priests' Councils, which represents many U.S. priests, has also published a statement in favor of discussing optional celibacy. The Federation noted that the Church has already set a precedent for open dialogue on subjects like ecumenism, a model that can be applied to debating celibacy.

"The NFPC understands that the issue of married priests is raised out of love for the Church, and a concern for the pastoral care and sacramental life of the Church in the face of a declining number of priests," the NFPC statement reads, adding that "open and honest discussion about the priesthood is healthy and beneficial to the Church."

The letter from the priests in the Albany Diocese puts the matter more bluntly: "We urge that from now on celibacy be optional, not mandatory, for candidates for the diocesan Roman Catholic priesthood."

Awaiting reply

As The Evangelist went to press, the priests had not yet received an answer to their letter.

Bishop Gregory replied to the Milwaukee priests' letter by saying that celibacy draws people closer to Christ and that changing the celibacy rule would not lead to an upsurge in vocations.

"I think they're not quite in touch with reality," Father Ingemie said of those opposed to a dialogue about optional celibacy. "All we're asking for is to discuss this."

Change

The priest admitted that after discouraging responses to other dioceses' letters, "I don't have a lot of hope" that the Albany request will spur change.

However, he added, enough letters may force the bishops to open discussion on optional celibacy, leading to a discussion at the Vatican, which would be necessary in order to effect change.

He said the priests hope for "more continuous communication" with Bishop Gregory and the U.S. bishops through other dioceses' adding their voices to the call for change.

"Why just sit back and not do anything?" he asked. "We're expressing our opinion, our feelings, what we think is good for the Church. Just doing that, I think, is a good thing. Hopefully, it will produce some discussion on the national level."

(An excerpt from the Albany priests' letter reads: "The primary motive for our urging this change is our pastoral concern that the Church's Eucharistic life might continue to flourish. In order for this to happen, the Roman Catholic Church needs to call more candidates for the ministerial priesthood. We speak out at this time also because of the ever-growing appreciation of marriage and its many blessings, so compatible with priesthood and even enhancing of priestly ministry.")

The text of the letter

October 30, 2003

Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory, S.L.D., President
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
C/O Chancery Office
222 S. Third Street
Belleville, IL 62220-1985

Dear Bishop Gregory:

We are priests, diocesan and religious, serving the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.

We join our voices with our brother priests of the Milwaukee presbyterate, and those of so many others at this time. . .voices urging that diocesan priesthood now be open to married men as well as to celibate men.

Put otherwise, we urge that from now on celibacy be optional, not mandatory, for candidates for the diocesan Roman Catholic priesthood.

We remain so grateful for the blessing that celibacy has been for so many priests over the years. We remain aware that – great charism that it is – some future priests will continue to choose celibacy.

The primary motive for our urging this change is our pastoral concern that the church’s Eucharistic life might continue to flourish. In order for this to happen the Roman Catholic Church needs to call more candidates for the ministerial priesthood.

We speak out at this time also because of the ever growing appreciation of marriage and its many blessings, so compatible with priesthood and even enhancing of priestly ministry.

We urge you and your brother bishops of the conference to initiate a dialogue on this matter.

Fraternally in Christ,

Very Rev. Joseph E. Anselment
Rev. William M. Bauer
Rev. Arthur J. Becker
Very Rev. Joseph A. Benintende
Very Rev. Thomas F. Berardi
Rev. Richard J. Broderick
Rev. John Burns
Rev. Patrick J Butler
Rev. John L. Cairns
Rev. Nicholas A. Campagnone
Rev. Richard A. Carlino
Rev. Peter Chepaitis, OFM
Rev. Anthony J. Chiaramonte
Rev. Matthew Conlin, OFM
Rev. Christopher DeGiovine
Rev. L. Edward Deimeke
Rev. Anthony C. Diacetis
Rev. Kenneth J. Doyle
Rev. Francis J. DuBois
Rev. Paul Engel
Rev. Raymond Ethier
Rev. Martin J. Fisher
Rev. R. Adam Forno
Very Rev. Gary P. Gelfenbien
Rev. Francis J. Gilchrist
Rev. Kenneth W. Gregory
Rev. Thomas J. Hayes
Rev. Michael J. Hogan
Rev. Robert J. Hohenstein
Rev. Dominic S. Ingemie
Rev. Dominic Isopo
Rev. Msgr. John L. Jones
Rev. Edward S. Kacerguis
Rev. Anthony Kall, OFM Conv
Rev. James J. Kane
Rev. John D. Kirwin
Rev. Thomas E. Konopka
Rev. John R. Lanese
Rev. Robert J. LeFevre
Rev. Richard J. Leskovar
Very Rev. Leo F. Markert
Rev. James McNerney
Rev. Ronald A. Menty
Rev. Gary J. Mercure
Rev. David W. Mickiewicz
Rev. John A. Molyn
Rev. Giles D. Morrill
Rev. Stephen Morris
Rev. David E. Noone
Rev. Robert A. Nugent
Rev. Daniel C. Nusbaum
Rev. Joseph O'Brien
Rev. Francis A. O'Connor
Rev. L. Joseph O'Keeffe
Rev. James D. O'Neill
Rev. William H. Pape
Rev. John J. Paret, S.J
Rev. Michael J. Polewczak
Rev. Thomas M. Powers
Rev. John Provost
Rev. Brian Raiche
Rev. Peter D. Russo
Rev. Donald L. Rutherford
Rev. James Schiffer
Rev. Erwin H. Schweigardt
Rev. Richard Severson
Rev. Robert S. Shinos
Rev. LeRoy J. Smith
Rev. Paul Smith
Rev. Peter J. Sullivan III
Rev. Kenneth J. Swain
Rev. John Tallman
Rev. Arthur A. Toole
Rev. Nellis Tremblay
Rev. David Tressic (LOA)
Rev. William Turnbull
Rev. Bernard R. Turner
Rev. Carl A. Urban
Rev. Thomas Vail
Rev. James J. Vaughan
Rev. Richard Vosko
Rev. John Waldron
Rev. Gregory S. Weider
Rev. Christopher Welch
Rev. Michael W. Zakens
Rev. Thomas Zelker