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NEW YORK (CBS) ― New York's new archbishop took a major stand Wednesday on celibacy and the priesthood. In an exclusive television interview he said the subject should be debated.

Timothy Dolan spoke with CBS 2 HD as he settled into his new home.

When it comes to a welcome, there's no one quite like Archbishop Dolan.

"You're the first in my office," he said.

After a tour of his new office, Dolan answered questions about the issue of priests and marriage.

"Priest celibacy, while a jewel, is not church doctrine. It is just discipline," Dolan said. "Could discussion lead to a change in discipline? Sure it could.

"Are there people who say I would be a priest if I could marry? Yes, and they're good men. There's no use denying it."

And as for his personal view.

"Do I think it should be changed? No. Should we be afraid to talk about it and discuss it? No, not at all," Dolan said.

Dolan also addressed how Edward Cardinal Egan first suggested the idea that clerical celibacy should be open to discussion.

"I couldn't figure out why people found that so startling, when I read what Cardinal Egan had said," Dolan said.

With the numbers entering the priesthood down significantly -- only three priests were ordained in the diocese this year -- the debate, Dolan said, is necessary.

"A discussion of priestly celibacy would lead to a heightened appreciation for it. Most of the young men who are attracted to the priesthood are so because they find celibacy very attractive," Dolan said.

The celibacy rule dates back to the 11th century, long after the birth of the Catholic Church. For the past few years, a small group of cardinals have worked to open the discussion. Dolan said like others religious orders which do allow priests to marry difficulties in attracting young men to the priesthood would still exist.

"They say, hey, we're struggling too. It's not like this is a panacea. It's not the silver bullet that some people think it is," Dolan said.

Any reversal would have to be made by Pope Benedict XVI, who has called celibacy a style of life, not doctrine, although recent remarks have been clear that no change would be made.

Dolan addresses issues on school closures

In recent years, the New York Archdiocese has had to shut the doors of more than 20 of its schools. And now, after just a week on the job, the new archbishop is talking about whether more closings lie ahead.

Just one week into the archbishop's new role, Dolan addressed one of the Catholic community's biggest concerns.

CBS 2 HD: "Under your predecessor, 23 schools were closed, 10 parishes shuttered."

Dolan: "I would say as much as I hate to, there will probably be times in the years that God gives me to serve the people of God in this archdiocese that I'll have to ratify a painful decision – that a given school needs to merge or a given parish, or that building, will need to merge with a neighboring parish.

"I'm afraid that's unavoidable in today's climate."

At the time of his retirement, Cardinal Egan also retired the $48 million deficit and the closures played a significant role in that.

"Let me say that I sometimes think that Cardinal Egan was unfairly criticized," Dolan said. "If you look statistically, proportionally, the schools and parishes that have merged is much lower than in other dioceses throughout the country, including St. Louis and Milwaukee, the two that I am most associated with. So I think it is an unfair caricature of Cardinal Egan that he was closing parishes and schools. Not true."

Additional Catholic schools with low attendance have been in danger of closing over the past several years.

As for what happens to them?

"What I can assure people is that is a last resort and that that wouldn't happen without an immense amount of consultation and planning and prayer, and with them being involved," Dolan said.

CBS 2 HD: "How is the archdiocese doing financially?"

Dolan: "Are we rolling in dough? No. Are we in the red? No. But we don't have these mounds of money rolling around either. We're paying our bills. We're financially solvent."

As of now there are no immediate plans to close any schools or parishes.

You can see more of Mary Calvi's interview with Archbishop Dolan, on "Eye on New York" right here on CBS 2 HD on Sunday at 6:30 a.m.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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