The Vatican is considering allowing married men to become priests in remote areas of the Amazon region in South America, where there is a severe shortage of priests. Word of the proposal came Monday (June 17th) in a working document released by the Vatican for an October meeting of South American bishops. Reuters reported that the document said, "While affirming that celibacy is a gift for the Church, there have been requests that, for the most remote areas of the region, [the Church] studies the possibility of conferring priestly ordination on elderly men, preferably indigenous, respected and accepted members of their communities." The men to be considered could be married. The Catholic church has had the tradition of celibate priests since the 11th century, and opponents of allowing married priests in the Amazon say it would fuel calls to relax the celibacy rule more broadly. Currently, married men who convert to Catholicism from Protestant churches are allowed to be priests.