As the wife of an Orthodox Christian Priest at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Lewiston, I find the recent statement of the Catholic Church to again deny married clergy into the ranks of their priesthood preposterous.

The Catholic Church states that their policy on celibate clergy is a centuries-old tradition. Celibate clergy was made dogma as of the Council of Trent in the 16th century. Actually the Orthodox Church, which was the same as the Catholic Church up until the 11th century when the Catholic Church broke away, holds the older tradition of married clergy, which was founded by St. Peter himself, who was married in the 1st century. Catholic Bishops were even married up until the 6th century.

Until the Catholic Church realizes that celibacy is not for everyone and is a spiritual grace, they will continue to have problems in their clergy and loose many outstanding married men from joining the ranks of the priesthood.

Vicki Toppses, Lewiston