A Cohort of Married Roman Catholic Priests, and More Are on the Way

[Anna_Scott]

A Cohort of Married Roman Catholic Priests, and More Are on the Way
Link: nytimes.com/2012/01/07/us/married-roman-catholic-priests-are-testing-a-tradition.html?pagewanted=all

This New York Times article raises many questions about Catholic Priests and marriage–especially in light of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter (usordinariate.org/), through which married Episcopal Priests can enter the Catholic Church and continue to be Priests.

Does this open the door a bit wider for the option of marriage for all Catholic Priests?

What say you?
Anna

 

[ChrisB103]

A Cohort of Married Roman Catholic Priests, and More Are on the Way
Link: nytimes.com/2012/01/07/us/married-roman-catholic-priests-are-testing-a-tradition.html?pagewanted=all

This New York Times article raises many questions about Catholic Priests and marriage–especially in light of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter (usordinariate.org/), through which married Episcopal Priests can enter the Catholic Church and continue to be Priests.

Does this open the door a bit wider for the option of marriage for all Catholic Priests?

What say you?
Anna

I would say that this doesn’t open the door any wider for the option of marriage for all Catholic priests. After all, many Eastern Catholic priests are married, and most Eastern Catholics have been in communion with Rome for quite some time.

I think the purpose of this is to not allow a discipline, however useful it is, to impede Christian unity in any way. I live in San Antonio, TX, and there’s an Anglican Use parish here. I went to mass there one Sunday and it was beautiful!

 

[BernadetteM]

There have been many married Episcopal priests who have entered the Catholic Church and been ordained for many years. This is nothing new.

Within the Ordinariate, each case will be weighed and from my understanding there is no exact time limit when exceptions will be made.

Those former Anglican priests are not asking that the discipline be changed, some even feel that celibacy is a valuable aspect that continues in the Latin Rite.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

 

[po18guy]

No. It means that Anglican Rite Priests (already married) may enter into communion, but it will not affect the discipline in the Latin Rite. However, there are Latin Rite Priests that are married, but they are a tiny minority.

Edit: Actually, I believe that they will be Anglican Rite Catholics in communion with Rome, but not Roman Catholics.

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

A Cohort of Married Roman Catholic Priests, and More Are on the Way
Link: nytimes.com/2012/01/07/us/married-roman-catholic-priests-are-testing-a-tradition.html?pagewanted=all

This New York Times article raises many questions about Catholic Priests and marriage–especially in light of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter (usordinariate.org/), through which married Episcopal Priests can enter the Catholic Church and continue to be Priests.

Does this open the door a bit wider for the option of marriage for all Catholic Priests?

What say you?
Anna

I do not think so.
These are exception.

 

[Cavaradossi]

No. It means that Anglican Rite Priests (already married) may enter into communion, but it will not affect the discipline in the Latin Rite. However, there are Latin Rite Priests that are married, but they are a tiny minority.

Edit: Actually, I believe that they will be Anglican Rite Catholics in communion with Rome, but not Roman Catholics.

I think there was an interview with an Episcopalian bishop turned Catholic priest (he cannot become a bishop because of his marital status) who stated that the goal of the ordinariate is not to establish a separate church like the Eastern Catholic Churches, but to set up an ordinariate within the Latin Church for Anglican use, so I don’t know if ‘rite’ is quite the best descriptor.

 

[po18guy]

I think there was an interview with an Episcopalian bishop turned Catholic priest (he cannot become a bishop because of his marital status) who stated that the goal of the ordinariate is not to establish a separate church like the Eastern Catholic Churches, but to set up an ordinariate within the Latin Church for Anglican use, so I don’t know if ‘rite’ is quite the best descriptor.

I think that you are correct. I will have to Google it up again and have a read.

 

[puzzleannie]

Married priests will not be the norm in the Catholic Church until Catholics tithe to the degree their brethren do in other denominations which support their ministers and their families in a lifestyle similar to that of the rest of the congregation. That includes supporting large families since no priest’s family could use ABC, Catholic school tuition for those children and all the rest. I have belonged in parishes in the most affluent areas of the country and even there the parish could not or would not support a married priest and his family.

why is a question about the Catholic priesthood on this forum?

 

[Deconi]

A Cohort of Married Roman Catholic Priests, and More Are on the Way
Link: nytimes.com/2012/01/07/us/married-roman-catholic-priests-are-testing-a-tradition.html?pagewanted=all

This New York Times article raises many questions about Catholic Priests and marriage–especially in light of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter (usordinariate.org/), through which married Episcopal Priests can enter the Catholic Church and continue to be Priests.

Does this open the door a bit wider for the option of marriage for all Catholic Priests?

What say you?
Anna

Sounds like the usual attempt to sensationalize a ‘non event’ - trying to make it sound like it is something new and an unheard of controversy in Catholicism!

As others have pointed out, it’s been done for several centuries.

The interesting question for me is, how the ‘new’ additions and their families - especially the wives - will decide when they discover the life of a Catholic priest is ‘poor!’ He owns nothing and leaves all at the parish when he is assigned to the new one! Cars are a luxury and you DO NOT have a bank account etc, etc…

 

[mini_me640]

Sounds like the usual attempt to sensationalize a ‘non event’ - trying to make it sound like it is something new and an unheard of controversy in Catholicism!

As others have pointed out, it’s been done for several centuries.

The interesting question for me is, how the ‘new’ additions and their families - especially the wives - will decide when they discover the life of a Catholic priest is ‘poor!’ He owns nothing and leaves all at the parish when he is assigned to the new one! Cars are a luxury and you DO NOT have a bank account etc, etc…

Priests are allowed to own property unless they belong to an order that requires a vow of poverty. The priests at my church all drive nicer cars than me and take amazing vacations. I totally think they deserve it don’t get me wrong as they give up their whole lives to the Church. One owns a house that was left to him by a relative. They also can have personal bank accounts as long as ok by their superiors.

 

[Anna_Scott]

I would say that this doesn’t open the door any wider for the option of marriage for all Catholic priests. After all, many Eastern Catholic priests are married, and most Eastern Catholics have been in communion with Rome for quite some time.

I think the purpose of this is to not allow a discipline, however useful it is, to impede Christian unity in any way. I live in San Antonio, TX, and there’s an Anglican Use parish here. I went to mass there one Sunday and it was beautiful!

There have been many married Episcopal priests who have entered the Catholic Church and been ordained for many years. This is nothing new.

Within the Ordinariate, each case will be weighed and from my understanding there is no exact time limit when exceptions will be made.

Those former Anglican priests are not asking that the discipline be changed, some even feel that celibacy is a valuable aspect that continues in the Latin Rite.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

No. It means that Anglican Rite Priests (already married) may enter into communion, but it will not affect the discipline in the Latin Rite. However, there are Latin Rite Priests that are married, but they are a tiny minority.

Edit: Actually, I believe that they will be Anglican Rite Catholics in communion with Rome, but not Roman Catholics.

I do not think so.
These are exception.

I think there was an interview with an Episcopalian bishop turned Catholic priest (he cannot become a bishop because of his marital status) who stated that the goal of the ordinariate is not to establish a separate church like the Eastern Catholic Churches, but to set up an ordinariate within the Latin Church for Anglican use, so I don’t know if ‘rite’ is quite the best descriptor.

I think that you are correct. I will have to Google it up again and have a read.

Married priests will not be the norm in the Catholic Church until Catholics tithe to the degree their brethren do in other denominations which support their ministers and their families in a lifestyle similar to that of the rest of the congregation. That includes supporting large families since no priest’s family could use ABC, Catholic school tuition for those children and all the rest. I have belonged in parishes in the most affluent areas of the country and even there the parish could not or would not support a married priest and his family.

why is a question about the Catholic priesthood on this forum?

Sounds like the usual attempt to sensationalize a ‘non event’ - trying to make it sound like it is something new and an unheard of controversy in Catholicism!

As others have pointed out, it’s been done for several centuries.

The interesting question for me is, how the ‘new’ additions and their families - especially the wives - will decide when they discover the life of a Catholic priest is ‘poor!’ He owns nothing and leaves all at the parish when he is assigned to the new one! Cars are a luxury and you DO NOT have a bank account etc, etc…

Priests are allowed to own property unless they belong to an order that requires a vow of poverty. The priests at my church all drive nicer cars than me and take amazing vacations. I totally think they deserve it don’t get me wrong as they give up their whole lives to the Church. One owns a house that was left to him by a relative. They also can have personal bank accounts as long as ok by their superiors.

I agree that the media does tend to sensationalize things. It makes sense that an exception would be made for married Anglican Priests, for the sake of unity and to open the door for Anglicans to enter into full Communion with Rome.

However, exceptions indicate flexibility on the issue of celibacy. If there is a shortage of Catholic priests, as the article says (I realize it may be wrong); why wouldn’t the CC consider the option for all Priests to marry or at the very least, allow Catholic men who are already married to enter the Priesthood?

As to why I posted the question on this forum: Some Anglicans, including myself, are still considering the Catholic Church. So, all of these issues matter. Many of us are keeping a close eye on the Ordinariate.

Thank you all for your comments. I hope others will weigh in as well.
Anna

 

[KathleenGee]

I know of one marriage where the demands are more intense on the priest…and I am happy to see an Anglican ordinary now in the making.

The Holy Father has primacy, the keys to the Living Tradition of Christ, the primary evangelizer to the world, affords us the universal and missionary perspective, and the sign of unity of all believers…

When we finally come to acknowledgement of the Primacy of Peter, we then enter into the complete communion of God He is calling all of us to…

The Latin rite will always be celibate…and priests tell me they do not have the constitution to be married…tending to look at people as gathering…united together, rather than revolving one’s life around one person. Yes, they say it would be nice and fulfilling to provide for a wife, but they have more a solitary calling to fully serve the Lord. That is very hard for modern society to comprehend.

 

[1ke]

The interesting question for me is, how the ‘new’ additions and their families - especially the wives - will decide when they discover the life of a Catholic priest is ‘poor!’ He owns nothing and leaves all at the parish when he is assigned to the new one! Cars are a luxury and you DO NOT have a bank account etc, etc…

Where did you get that idea? It is incorrect.

Perhaps you are thinking of religious order priests. Diocesan (secuar) priests do not take a vow of poverty and certainly do own property, cars, bank accounts, and receive a salary.

 

[1ke]

However, exceptions indicate flexibility on the issue of celibacy.

Actually, it does not. And, the Pope has reiterated this numerous times. There will be no change to the discipline of celibacy in the West.

If there is a shortage of Catholic priests, as the article says (I realize it may be wrong); why wouldn’t the CC consider the option for all Priests to marry or at the very least, allow Catholic men who are already married to enter the Priesthood?

There is a “shortage” of priests in Western countries. Vocations overflow in many other countries. This shortage in Western countries extends not only to Catholic priests but to Protestant ministers in mainline churches and to the Orthodox. It cannot be concluded that celibacy in the Catholic Church is a cause of a shortage when shortages parallel geographically within those denominations and Churches that allow married clergy and, in some cases, female clergy.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I think there was an interview with an Episcopalian bishop turned Catholic priest (he cannot become a bishop because of his marital status) who stated that the goal of the ordinariate is not to establish a separate church like the Eastern Catholic Churches, but to set up an ordinariate within the Latin Church for Anglican use, so I don’t know if ‘rite’ is quite the best descriptor.

The problem is in a Western Council they said that no new particular Churches should be established. Funny thing is that the Ordinariate is just that, similar to an Eastern Church that is under the Patriarch of another. I don’t know, to me “a rose by any other name…”. I mean, the Pope has the authority to change the canons of a council anyway, why not just establish an Anglican sui juris.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Married priests will not be the norm in the Catholic Church until Catholics tithe to the degree their brethren do in other denominations which support their ministers and their families in a lifestyle similar to that of the rest of the congregation. That includes supporting large families since no priest’s family could use ABC, Catholic school tuition for those children and all the rest. I have belonged in parishes in the most affluent areas of the country and even there the parish could not or would not support a married priest and his family.

why is a question about the Catholic priesthood on this forum?

What? Where do you get the idea that married priests should make more just because they are married? Do married computer programmers get paid more than single computer programmers? Do married accountants get paid more than single accountants? Why does the married priest have to have a lifestyle similar to the married people in his denomination? What if the parish is on the rich part of town? Should the priest make enough to afford a 10-bedroom mansion?

In the East where married priests are very common, the girlfriends enter into marriage knowing and accepting the lifestyle of the priest. That means simple living. We currently have 2 married priests in our area in our Church (UGCC) and the priests do not get paid more than the other priests who are celibate. Of course the priests are provided with housing. But personal expenses are theirs. And of course the parishioners take care of them. I remember going into my priest’s home and one of the room is just stuffed full of toys for his child. I bet he hasn’t spent a cent on any of them, just this past Christmas I saw one of the parishioners hand him 3 bags of toys for his child.

 

[vsedriver]

The problem is in a Western Council they said that no new particular Churches should be established. Funny thing is that the Ordinariate is just that, similar to an Eastern Church that is under the Patriarch of another. I don’t know, to me “a rose by any other name…”. I mean, the Pope has the authority to change the canons of a council anyway, why not just establish an Anglican sui juris.

essentially the Anglicans were a part of the Latin Rite. The Catholic Church does not see them as a separate church the way they see the Eastern Churches. What the Catholic Church has done was arrange for the Anglican Church to rejoin the communion with the Latin Rite by allowing them to preserve their traditions.

 

[BernadetteM]

Many of the priests entering the Ordinariate and those in the Anglican Use have up to 9 children. I am sure that they live a simple life, but are willing to sacrifice, that includes their wives to follow Christ in His Church.

This is more than many people in any denomination would be willing to do. There are Catholic priests who come from families with wealth and there is nothing the Church states that the priest can’t inherit money.

I have great respect for priests who have lilttle and devote their lives to God and the Church. My pastor is one of those and he is a very holy man.

As has been pointed out by one poster, Anglicans come from the Latin Church and will be Latin Rite Catholics with their own Patrimony and liturgy.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

 

[ConstantineTG]

essentially the Anglicans were a part of the Latin Rite. The Catholic Church does not see them as a separate church the way they see the Eastern Churches. What the Catholic Church has done was arrange for the Anglican Church to rejoin the communion with the Latin Rite by allowing them to preserve their traditions.

In the East, Churches break into separate jurisdictions all the time. If you trace back history, many of these Churches were just one Church at some point in time.

 

[Nicea325]

A Cohort of Married Roman Catholic Priests, and More Are on the Way
Link: nytimes.com/2012/01/07/us/married-roman-catholic-priests-are-testing-a-tradition.html?pagewanted=all

This New York Times article raises many questions about Catholic Priests and marriage–especially in light of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter (usordinariate.org/), through which married Episcopal Priests can enter the Catholic Church and continue to be Priests.

Does this open the door a bit wider for the option of marriage for all Catholic Priests?

What say you?
Anna

Depends on who is asking and the specific person/group which replies.