32-year-old David Nas was ordained as a priest at Koekelberg's Roman Catholic basilica on Saturday afternoon. David is a former car assembly worker, but perhaps more surprisingly he is the also the married father of three children. It is the first time in the 465 year history of the archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels that a married man has been ordained as a priest by the archdiocese.
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Married father of three children ordained as a priest at Koekelberg’s Roman Catholic basilica
Colin Clapson
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But how can a married man with three children be ordained as a priest at the Roman Catholic basilica? What about the church’s celibacy rules? Fortunately, David Nas, who hails from Sint-Katelijne-Waver (Antwerp Province), can explain.
"I am the first married man to be ordained as a priest in the archdiocese. I am a member of the Chaldean Church that is part of the Roman Catholic Church, but that follows the rites of the eastern church."
The Chaldean Church has its own organisation. Celibacy is not an obligation. Priests may marry and may have children. David Nas has no fewer than three children - a boy aged 7, and two girls aged 4 and 2.
"My little son already says, 'Daddy, I want to be a priest too,'" he explains.
"I am not opposed to celibacy” David continues. “I am in favour of choice. I am convinced that today’s bishops and church leaders are also thinking in this direction and that celibacy will eventually become a choice as well".