Filmmaker John Deery says hopes his new movie "Conspiracy of Silence" will start a discussion about an issue he believes is crippling the Catholic Church.

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"There is a hemorrhaging of priests in the priesthood and that is unsustainable," Deery recently told UPI. "I believe that celibacy is the single most important issue that threatens the Catholic Church in the 21st Century and unless we deal with it in a way that really reflects how society is today, I just don't believe that the Catholic Church will see out the 21st Century because of all of the scandals and everything that has happened.

"My view is priests should choose. If they want to be celibate, for whatever reason, that's up to them, just like anyone else has the choice."

Deery's film, in theaters now, is about a gay priest who commits suicide, the grieving lover he left behind, and a young seminarian torn between the girl he loves and his desire to be a priest.

The first-time filmmaker said he hopes the Vatican will change rules forbidding priests -- gay or straight -- from indulging in romantic relationships.