A Catholic lawmaker in Hawaii, Representative Rita Cabanilla Arakawa, has urged the Church to allow priests to marry.
The StarAdvertiser reported the lawmaker introduced a resolution to address sexual assault against minors by those affiliated with the church.
She is urging the entire Catholic system to implement change to overcome such crimes.
Ms Arakawa believes allowing married men into the church would help curb sexual abuse against minors.
She said clerical celibacy was implemented by the Catholic Church during the Middle Ages for the benefit of the church.