‘Vatican II will solve reform row'

The resolutions to disputes with a growing number of pro-reform priests can be found in the declarations of the Second Vatican Council, three Swiss bishops and two senior Vatican figures have agreed.

The prelates adopted a more conciliatory tone to the so-called "priests' initiatives" in various European countries than the Vatican has until now. The groups are calling for married priests, a discussion around ordaining women and communion for remarried divorcees.

Bishops Felix Gmür of Basel, Vitus Huonder of Chur and Markus Büchel of St Gallen discussed problems they were having with the Swiss Priests' Initiative with the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller and the Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, in the Vatican on 1 July.