The appointment by the pope of Simonis as bishop plunged the Vatican and the Dutch church into confrontation once again. Liberals were furious that Paul had bypassed three candidates.

Just a year ago this month, the Dutch Pastoral Council of the Roman Catholic Church voted for a policy statement against compulsory celibacy. During the debates preceding that vote (TIME, Jan. 19, 1970), one of the few voices arguing to preserve the old celibacy rule was a young-looking parish priest…