VATICAN CITY, Italy, June 28 (UPI) -- Pope John Paul II Saturday reaffirmed Catholic priests must remain celibate.
In a document issued by the Vatican, the pope said he has no intention of changing the celibacy rule, despite numerous sex scandals involving priests.
The pope said celibacy symbolizes a priest's undivided love for God and his people, Voice of America reported.
The sex scandals that have rocked the Church have led to some calling for a lifting of the ban. There had also been talk of relaxing the stringent rules in an effort to boost recruitment of new priests.
But in the 134-page "Ecclessia in Europe," the pope said lifting the celibacy law would not be productive.
The document also called upon the European Union to include a reference to Christianity in its proposed constitution. Opponents, however, say any such inclusion would offend the millions of European Muslims, VOA said.
