I enjoyed Fr John Caruana’s letter/article (March 25). His optimism reflects a good part of my high hopes for the Synod of Bishops. I truly believe that Pope Francis is one of the most keenly attuned Pontiffs in many centuries. He is actually feeling the ‘pulse’ of the faithful and rounding-up bishops, archbishops and cardinals, not merely for input and advice but also a type of new Catholic reformation of our own spiritual house.

Personally, I feel that Roman Catholic priests should have mandatory celibacy for 10 years after being ordained to the priesthood. After 10 years of faithful service, with no past track record of abuse or wrongdoing, then I think the priest should be given the option of marrying a woman and having children. Repeat, the avenue I am suggesting is only an ‘option’ as a reward for dedicated service to God and His Church for a solid decade.

Secondly, I think that divorced Catholics need an avenue to receive all the sacraments, including Communion. Sometimes, denial of communion is likened to a medicinal ‘remedy’. To be denied communion only disenfranchises those who truly want to be in the pews and partake. To deny them access is akin to further estrangement.

I have high hopes that the coming Synod of Bishops will be constructive and light a candle for new light to spread throughout the worldwide universal Church. For far too long, the Vatican’s archaic pronouncements have been looked upon as the dark cellar of intolerance. The time has now come for kind hearts and an attitude of embracing people instead of pushing them further away.