Are men who have had an abortion (and repented) able to be ordained a Priest

  • Thread starter Thread starter guernz
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
G

guernz

Guest
Hi,
I was told by a certain person that men who have previously had an abortion and even if they have repented are not eligible to become priests. This didn’t seem right to me:shrug: Is this the truth? and if so why?
 
I assume you mean actively participated in an abortion. Men can’t have abortions.

If the man in question just had a wife or girlfriend who went out and got an abortion without his consent, he didn’t participate.
 
Can. 1041 The following are irregular for receiving orders:

4/ a person who has committed voluntary homicide or procured a completed abortion and all those who positively cooperated in either;
 
yes I was implying that.:rolleyes: The man would have fully consented or pushed for an abortion from his girlfriend or whatever. But the question remains, if that man did do this, would he be rejected for ordination or not?
 
Just_Lurking said:
Can. 1041 The following are irregular for receiving orders:

4/ a person who has committed voluntary homicide or procured a completed abortion and all those who positively cooperated in either;
Click to expand...
Does irregular mean never? Though it may be irregular, is it still possible for a repentant murderer to become ordained? St. Paul murdered Christians prior to his repentance. He was a Priest.
Can. 1041 The following are irregular for receiving orders:
1º a person who labors under some form of amentia or other psychic illness due to which, after experts have been consulted, he is judged unqualified to fulfill the ministry properly;
2º a person who has committed the delict of apostasy, heresy, or schism;
3º a person who has attempted marriage, even only civilly, while either impeded personally from entering marriage by a matrimonial bond, sacred orders, or a public perpetual vow of chastity, or with a woman bound by a valid marriage or restricted by the same type of vow;
4º a person who has committed voluntary homicide or procured a completed abortion and all those who positively cooperated in either;
5º a person who has mutilated himself or another gravely and maliciously or who has attempted suicide;
6º a person who has placed an act of orders reserved to those in the order of episcopate or presbyterate while either lacking that order or prohibited from its exercise by some declared or imposed canonical penalty.
Click to expand...
Can. 1042 The following are simply impeded from receiving orders:
1º a man who has a wife, unless he is legitimately destined to the permanent diaconate;
2º a person who exercises an office or administration forbidden to clerics according to the norm of cann. 285 and 286 for which he must render an account, until he becomes free by having relinquished the office or administration and rendered the account;
3º a neophyte unless he has been proven sufficiently in the judgment of the ordinary.
Click to expand...
This is the quote from canon law 1983.
The impeded part seems to imply that the irregular part is ok, but no usual. Thanks for that reference to canon law.
 
I think the code says that a person who participated in homicide or abortion would have to get a special dispensation from the vatican.
 
Is this an actual issue? Do you know someone who is impeded by this? I hope that your question is only theoretical; if not, I will pray for a proper resolution. I’m going to pray for a proper resolution anyway, since the issue probably impacts someone here on Earth.
 
Irregular is worse than simply impeded. Simply impeded means the impediment could potentially “go away” on its own. Irregular means the impediment is perpetual (see canon 1040).

The abortion irregularity is one whose dispensation is specially reserved to the Holy See (see canon 1047 §2 2/).
 
Yes, according to the canon, a man who participates or even encourages an abortion is irregular for Ordination (impeded from receiving the sacrament).

That is not to say that he can never be ordained. In order for a man in that situation to be ordained, he must render a full account of what happened, his role in the abortion, and the number of times that it happened. This would then need to be sent to the Holy See via the Diocesan Bishop, or his staff. After Rome receives it, they make their decision. If he receives a dispensation, his impediment is removed and is regular (able) to receive Holy Orders.

In Carmel,

Br. Allen
 
I know a wonderful man that is “irregular for receiving holy orders.”

He was “married” to a Catholic woman in the Church. They divorced after a little over a year. A few years later he married another Catholic woman outside of the Church. Ten years later they had their marriage convalidated which required an annulment which was easily granted based on the circumstances.

Ten years after that he applied to the permanent diaconate. He was denied because of his history. Yes, his bishop could possibly have went to bat for him with the Holy See but after some back-channel checking by the vicar general of the diocese he decided not too – which is not uncommon.

Interesting, huh?
 
Allen537 said:
Yes, according to the canon, a man who participates or even encourages an abortion is irregular for Ordination (impeded from receiving the sacrament).

That is not to say that he can never be ordained. In order for a man in that situation to be ordained, he must render a full account of what happened, his role in the abortion, and the number of times that it happened. This would then need to be sent to the Holy See via the Diocesan Bishop, or his staff. After Rome receives it, they make their decision. If he receives a dispensation, his impediment is removed and is regular (able) to receive Holy Orders.

In Carmel,

Br. Allen
Click to expand...
Thanks for the great answer:thumbsup: You cleared up my uncertainties on the Church’s policy on this.
 
Moyle said:
I know a wonderful man that is “irregular for receiving holy orders.”

He was “married” to a Catholic woman in the Church. They divorced after a little over a year. A few years later he married another Catholic woman outside of the Church. Ten years later they had their marriage convalidated which required an annulment which was easily granted based on the circumstances.

Ten years after that he applied to the permanent diaconate. He was denied because of his history. Yes, his bishop could possibly have went to bat for him with the Holy See but after some back-channel checking by the vicar general of the diocese he decided not too – which is not uncommon.

Interesting, huh?
Click to expand...
Since the deaconate is not about the individual and all about being for the people I am not shocked at the outcome.

There may have been a chance that public scandal could have come into play I don’t know the details but I know many people would be scandalized by knowing the mans past. AND since the deacon is the servant of the people it IS thier business to know his past.
 
Moyle said:
I know a wonderful man that is “irregular for receiving holy orders.”

He was “married” to a Catholic woman in the Church. They divorced after a little over a year. A few years later he married another Catholic woman outside of the Church. Ten years later they had their marriage convalidated which required an annulment which was easily granted based on the circumstances.

Ten years after that he applied to the permanent diaconate. He was denied because of his history. Yes, his bishop could possibly have went to bat for him with the Holy See but after some back-channel checking by the vicar general of the diocese he decided not too – which is not uncommon.

Interesting, huh?
Click to expand...
Very interesting…however, I would assume that he was denied entrance into the program because of his history, not because of canonical irregularity.
 
Just_Lurking said:
Wouldn’t canon 1041 3º apply here?
Click to expand...
No because it was later established that no valid matrimonial bond existed in fact to create the impediment.

However, that he did attempt marriage, and outside the Church, while the former marriage possessed the presumption of validity may have entered into the evaluation of his suitability.
 
In the East (Byzantine-Ruthenian) I have heard of at least one aspirant to the permanent diaconate that was refused because he PARENTS were divorced.

Interesting, huh?
 
Moyle said:
In the East (Byzantine-Ruthenian) I have heard of at least one aspirant to the permanent diaconate that was refused because he PARENTS were divorced.

Interesting, huh?
Click to expand...
Besides what the Canons say a bishop may set up his own guidelines for ordination.

No one has a right to be ordained.

I know of some dioceses that will not consider any man for ordination to the priesthood who have an annulment.

Many bishops look at the possibility of scandal when they set up these guidelines.

Also, it is perfectly legit for a bishop to treat each candidate differently and allow one where he might disallow another.
 
Moyle said:
I know a wonderful man that is “irregular for receiving holy orders.”

He was “married” to a Catholic woman in the Church. They divorced after a little over a year. A few years later he married another Catholic woman outside of the Church. Ten years later they had their marriage convalidated which required an annulment which was easily granted based on the circumstances.

Ten years after that he applied to the permanent diaconate. He was denied because of his history. Yes, his bishop could possibly have went to bat for him with the Holy See but after some back-channel checking by the vicar general of the diocese he decided not too – which is not uncommon.

Interesting, huh?
Click to expand...
That particular impediment is biblical, and also in the apostolic constitutions as well.
1st Tim 3:12:
Deacons may be married only once and must manage their children and their households well.
Click to expand...
 
guernz said:
Hi,
I was told by a certain person that men who have previously had an abortion and even if they have repented are not eligible to become priests. This didn’t seem right to me:shrug: Is this the truth? and if so why?
Click to expand...
I actually heard a priest on the Catholic radio station here talking about this. His name escapes me right now. But as a teenager, his girlfriend became pregnant, with twins, and although he says he didnt “encourage” her to abort, when she decided to do so, he did nothing to stop her as he figured it was best at that time. And without directly “okaying” it…he said he made it clear that he was on board.

I believe he said he did have to receive some kind of additional
dispensation of sorts to continue in seminary and be ordained. But, eventually he was and is a priest today…who, not shockingly, is very devoted and involved in the pro-life issues…I wish i could remember his name, he was a very good and interesting speaker.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top