Anglican Use: Holy Orders and Matrimony of the Priest

[martinporres]

A question that’s been on my mind for some time now with regard to the Anglican Use communities is regarding their vocational situation.

Given a newly formed Anglican Use community entering a Latin diocese under the Pastoral Provision, I understand that a married previously-Anglican or -Episcopalian priest can receive valid holy orders after being confirmed, etc. Therefore it is possible (although not a given, obviously) that he will not only be a husband – and, at God’s will, a father – but also a priest.

My question is not about that man. My question is about the community itself, and any young men within the community. It would be my guess that since they have entered the Latin Rite, and are not a church sui iuris, like say the Ruthenian Catholic Church, that no young men brought up in an Anglican Use parish may choose both marriage and ordination to the priesthood.

Would someone, preferably from an existing Anglican Use community, please confirm this understanding of mine?

If this is the case, in essence, it means that only newly-formed Anglican Use communities will ever have married priests, while in the future, these communities will be pastored by men entirely devoted to their flock in the Latin tradition.

In Christ,
mp

 

[martinporres]

With a little more in depth search, I found my answer via this document on EWTN: What’s the deal about legally married priests?. Relevant quote:

In the future, if a lay member of one of these reunited parishes wanted to become a Catholic priest, he would be required to take the promise of celibacy.

Still, would like to hear any feedback on this from any Anglican Use parishioner, especially if it was a difficult idea for the community to accept or if it has caused any young men to leave Holy Mother Church for orders elsewhere.

mp

 

[brotherhrolf]

I don’t think this is limited to just Anglican Use parishes. My diocese recently ordained a married man who was ordained an Episcopalian priest. I believe the issue is married before ordination. I have encountered in my diocese a number of widowers who are now priests whose wife died before they were ordained. It’s neat to see their children and grandchildren attend Mass.

 

[chicago]

I don’t think this is limited to just Anglican Use parishes. My diocese recently ordained a married man who was ordained an Episcopalian priest.

Anglican/Episcopalean… basically the same thing. Though I believe that you are correct in that it doesn’t just apply strictly to those from this denominational background. Typically, that is where such allowances are made, however.

I believe the issue is married before ordination.

It is generally referred to as the “pastoral privilege”, indicating how it applies to existant pastors as a way of confirming their ministry within that community as something valued by the Church and seen as worthy of enabling them to continue as an ordained priest.

 

[martinporres]

Brotherhrolf and chicago, thanks for your replies.

The focus of my question was on young men brought up in communities which utilize the Anglican Use (but I guess it could be extended to any community that has married priests in a normally unmarried vocation – for Latin Catholics, I mean), and whether or not these young men could get married as well as becoming priests. That question I answered myself, but additionally, I was interested in whether or not it causes trouble within such communities (e.g., a young man questioning: “Father Michael is married and we come from an Anglican background, so why can’t I be married as well as be a priest?”).

In Christ,
mp

 

[ASimpleSinner]

Brotherhrolf and chicago, thanks for your replies.

The focus of my question was on young men brought up in communities which utilize the Anglican Use (but I guess it could be extended to any community that has married priests in a normally unmarried vocation – for Latin Catholics, I mean), and whether or not these young men could get married as well as becoming priests. That question I answered myself, but additionally, I was interested in whether or not it causes trouble within such communities (e.g., a young man questioning: “Father Michael is married and we come from an Anglican background, so why can’t I be married as well as be a priest?”).

In Christ,
mp

I imagine it comes up in the minds of some at some point or another, but honestly, knowing a few members of AU parishes, most every member is pretty keenly aware of their special status. They have a good understanding how it came to be that their priest is a married man, and their parish is a specail and unique place.