Bishop Johan Bonny prepares married men for priesthood

Bishop Johan Bonny has begun preparing married men for priestly ordination to address a shortage of priests in the Diocese of Antwerp. The bishop told the Belgian newspaper La Libre Belgique that the diocese currently has fewer than 70 priests under the age of 70, and nearly two thirds of them are from other countries.

The shortage has weakened pastoral care in Flanders, leaving the diocese without priests dedicated solely to schools, youth movements, or hospitals. Additionally, only one of the five prisons in the Antwerp province has a permanent chaplain. While Bishop Bonny acknowledges the importance of priests from other countries, he stated that necessity compels him to seek local solutions because the region has exhausted its reserves of vocations.

In June, Bishop Bonny traveled to Rome to discuss the situation with Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy, and Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops. The bishop reported that both cardinals intended to present the matter to Pope Leo XIV. The Vatican has not yet announced a decision regarding the proposal to ordain married men.