Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin has supported a call for a debate on celibacy in the priesthood but said he did not think the Catholic Church intended abolishing it.
Last December, the Vatican refused to comment on a call by Bishop of Killaloe Dr Willie Walsh to reconsider its teaching on celibacy.
Dr Martin said yesterday that while he was in favour of a debate, he did not think the Catholic Church was going in the direction of making it optional.
"Before that we have to work again on seeing how we can allow the value of celibacy in a broader spiritual context to be understood and appreciated."
In an interview with Ursula Halligan on the TV3 programme, Political Party, Dr Martin said that he had been in love and had struggled with celibacy. "I would probably say yes (I've been in love). Sometimes you only realise that afterwards . . . it's heartbreaking at times."
In an interview last December, Dr Walsh suggested that there was room in the church for both celibate and married priests. "I have known some very fine priests who have left the priesthood because they found the challenge of celibacy not lifegiving for them. Men like that are a great loss to the ministerial priesthood," he said.
Last October, the Vatican's synod of bishops discussed celibacy and concluded that the road leading to married priests was "a path not to follow".
Dr Martin also welcomed the return of Bishop Eamonn Casey.
