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alyzar
Guest
Can a divorced man with an annulement become a Priest?
Pax
Brad
Pax
Brad
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AdvanceAlways
Guest
yes
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THurifer2
Guest
Yes
Wondering though why would a person get an annulment if they had no intentions on Marrying? Oh perhaps the ex-spouse requested the annulment…anyway the answer to you question is yes but a bishop may be cautious to prevent confusion among the faithful.
Wondering though why would a person get an annulment if they had no intentions on Marrying? Oh perhaps the ex-spouse requested the annulment…anyway the answer to you question is yes but a bishop may be cautious to prevent confusion among the faithful.
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augieboo
Guest
Until he gets an annulment, he is still married, and married men cannot become priests.
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RevDrNorth
Guest
Uhhhmmm…yes and no. No normally but if you are an Episcopalian (Anglican) priest you can convert and become a Roman Catholic priest and be married. Met one in the army at the Chaplains school. I was attending Mass (RC) and Fr.'s wife was introduced. We all turned around and there was an army Major.Until he gets an annulment, he is still married, and married men cannot become priests.
Rev North
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augieboo
Guest
I know, but I didn’t want to have to explain it. You did a nice job though.
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Rolltide
Guest
Married Lutheran and Methodist ministers that have converted have also been allowed to become priests as well, on at least one or two occasions.
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RevDrNorth
Guest
Neat…I did not know about the Methodists. Some Methodists are quite suited to liturgy and like spirituality. As has been posted here they have a religious order (Order of St. Luke) whose charism (among others) is liturgical scholarship and promotion of liturgical worship.
Rev North
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aklud
Guest
How about a divorced man who has an annulment, but also has a 5 yr old daughter. I have heard that I would need to wait until she was 18 before I could consider priesthood. Not sure on specifics, or if this is even accurate, any information would be great.
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RobNY
Guest
I would think so. A priest in my parish was formely married and had kids, but he became a priest after his wife had passed away and his kids had grown up. I’ve heard the same thing-- the kids should be providing for themselves before the father becomes a priest. It’s not really responsible otherwise, and how is he going to provide for the kids after he becomes a priest?
-Rob
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cameron_lansing
Guest
Consult the USCCB Program of Priestly Formation (fifth ed., 2006), n. 66:
“Applicants who have received a declaration of matrimonial nullity should be carefully screened. Although these men may have canonical freedom to pursue the priesthood, it is important to ascertain if and how previous obstacles to a marriage commitment or possible scandal might affect their viability as candidates for the priesthood. Care must be taken to certify the canonical declaration of nullity by reviewing the Acta (official documentation and evidence for the canonical decision) to ensure that the reasons and circumstances that serve as warrants for the declaration of nullity are fully disclosed to the sponsoring bishop or religious ordinary, rector, and the seminary admissions committee. If a previously married person has responsibilities for his spouse, this factor is to be considered. If the candidate has responsibility for a minor child, acceptance should be deferred. All such cases should be carefully weighed.”
{ available at nccbuscc.org/vocations/ProgramforPriestlyFormation.pdf }
In the Latin Church, the simple impediment of a man who has a wife, unless he is legitimately destined for the permanent diaconate, would cease (canon 1042 1º). However, several factors are involved before a man may be ordained. Canon 1025 §§1-2 states that before ordaining a man, the bishop must determine that he possesses the necessary qualities and that he is suitable and useful for the sacred ministry. Canon 1029 also mentions integral faith, motivation by right intention, possess the required knowledge, good reputation, good morals, and proven virtues, and other physical and psychological qualities which are appropriate to the order to be received.
A discovery that touches on any of those factors may have been made in the course of the nullity proceeding. It might shed doubt about the qualities of the man or suitability for orders. Arrangements could be made for the bishop to have access to certain of the tribunal records with the consent of the man. For example, if the cause behind the proven ground of nullity involved deep seated psychological issues in the man, then it might conceivably render him inept or unsuited for ordained ministry.
Ordination to priesthood also requires a freedom to dedicate oneself to the service of God and humankind, and this is the rationale for celibacy expressed in canon 277 §1. But that freedom could be diminished in other ways. The man may also have moral or civil obligations to the former spouse, and / or moral and financial obligations to children born in the union. Those areas will be examined to see if they apply, and if so, are being or have been discharged.
It should not be overlooked, but must still be looked at charitably, that a man’s most important undertaking in life, that of marriage, has not ended well. So there will be special scrutiny made. Some dioceses, do not, as a matter of course, entertain the prospect of admitting divorced men with decrees of nullity into formation. Some will admit them after a diligent examination.
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bob_the_builder
Guest
hi can a man who is married and is a catholic become a priest?
does he have to leave the church become Anglican get ordain than come back to the catholic church to be ordained priest?
does he have to leave the church become Anglican get ordain than come back to the catholic church to be ordained priest?
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RevDrNorth
Guest
I would guess…no. Unless maybe (??) the wife and he both took a vow of celibacy and she headed for a convent???
I think I have heard of married couples entering religious life by both taking a vow of celibacy and entering a religious order.
Many here will be able to provide a far better anwer they I can.
My guess is your best bet is to become a Deacon. Deacons are ordained clergy and it can be a wonderful avenue of service.
Rev North
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bob_the_builder
Guest
I have heard of people being ordained Anglican than returning to be catholics can this be possible?
The truth is I don’t want to be a deacon I have always wanted to be a priest since childhood I was in seminary than I got out because I felt GOD call me to be married But now I feel he calls again and for the past 10 years I have wanted to be a priest I have been a sacristan ,minister of Communion,lay minister in prison, bereavement minister but I feel called to the priesthood I don’t want to leave my catholic faith
but if necessary I will I just want to know if it is possible to go be ordain as an Anglican and come back to a catholic priest me and mi wife have talked about it and we both want to make that commitment please help?
The truth is I don’t want to be a deacon I have always wanted to be a priest since childhood I was in seminary than I got out because I felt GOD call me to be married But now I feel he calls again and for the past 10 years I have wanted to be a priest I have been a sacristan ,minister of Communion,lay minister in prison, bereavement minister but I feel called to the priesthood I don’t want to leave my catholic faith
but if necessary I will I just want to know if it is possible to go be ordain as an Anglican and come back to a catholic priest me and mi wife have talked about it and we both want to make that commitment please help?
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augieboo
Guest
Bob,
I would seriously doubt the validity of any “call” which requires one to leave Christ’s Church in order to be followed. In simple terms, it seems as though you’d have to commit schism in the Catholic Church, then lie to the Anglicans as to why you want to join them, then lie all the way through seminary, then somehow convince the Catholic Church to forget about all of the above.
Somebody may be calling you to do all that, but it is not Jesus Christ. :dts:
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cameron_lansing
Guest
Bob,
Setting aside the enormous objection to defecting from the Catholic Church, the possible commission of objective schism and heresy, public scandal, and personal spiritual damage, you should be aware that it would be quite unlikely for the Holy See to entertain such a possibility. It would be viewed, I should think and say in all blunt charity to you, as an expediency and potentially an action of bad faith, since it arises from a planned intention to side step the law of the Church.
Those Anglican priests who returned to the Catholic faith and then made recourse to the pastoral provision did so in good faith. They were typically young when they left and did not do so to avoid the law of the Church but did so for other reasons, whether of accident (came over as children under the control of parents) or conscience.
Their return, reconciliation, and consequent ordination into Catholic priesthood was motivated by reasons of conscience.
I really encourage you to obtain some pastoral guidance and help in discernment from your parish priest.
B
bob_the_builder
Guest
thank you I will do that.
Ps I never meant to offend anyones faith or over step the rules I just felt like speaking to someone in regards of my faith thank you for your advise.
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RevDrNorth
Guest
I suppose in a somewhat theoretical sense BUT in reality you would be under an enormous amount of scrutiny and trying to make an end run around the issue would not look good (ie I would guess might slim down your chances) when you attempted to discuss the issue with the RC Bishop on your return.
The other thing is that you being married would have a bit of a tough time supporting a wife on what the Church pays Priests. Catholics on the whole give about 50% of what Protestants do and with all of these suits, bankrupt diocese and so on I am not sure how many married clergy they can support. In other words you are not going to be pulling in what your average Episcopalian Priest, or even well educated Southern Baptist pastor is (one I know in a decent size church -ie not large not small - is making between 70 -80 thousand). To be an RC Priest is a very serious calling that one does out of love and must be willing to sacrifice monetary factors in spite of high education levels and long hours for the cause of Christ.
You should look at holy orders in terms of the diaconate. You can also join a religious order as a Third Order member (ie do both). Just be aware that if Mrs Bob The Builder passes away, you will not be allowed to remarry even if you follow head over heals in love. To be a deacon is a very serious calling to Holy Orders that will require a great deal of investment of time and energy.
Rev North
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DiscerningDave
Guest
Not necessarily. I am in that exact same situation. I have been discerning for two years now, and made my mind up 100% last year.
I have been on a few retreats, met with several pastors, seminarians, and most importantly, my vocations director of my diocese.
Each diocese would look at your situation on a case by case basis. I will tell you what I was told. I may enter when my daughter begins high school. Her mother and I have a good relationship and she is in full support of my decision. She has agreed to keep our daughter while I will be in the seminary. The details of my situation are the following:
The seminary my diocese uses is only 45 minutes away.
He informed me the seminarians come back to our diocese all of the time, and anytime I needed to come back it would not be a problem. (We just had a man ordained that for the first 3 years drove back and forth everyday, so he could care for his father…he was ordained last week at age 62)
He advised me to make all of the financial arangements for my daughter now. I am in the process of that. When I enter, she will be set up financially without any worries. (High school and college will be paid for and a monetary fund for whatever will be at her disposal.)
I do have about 8 years before I enter. Seems like a while, but as everyone knows, time goes by in a flash. So, in the meantime…I will be entering into diocanate formation and hopefully become a deacon in the interim.
Oh,I am also 33 and have not dated in two years. He told me to get used to it. LOL! So, I am living a celibate life, dedicating my free time to my dauhter and my ministry with my parish. Life has never been better!!!
And one more thing…I thank God everyday for my daughter. He placed her in my life before I was to make my decision. He did this for one major reason, to teach me unconditional love as he has for us. Without her, I would never have known what the love of God for his children truly is like.
Peace
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RevDrNorth
Guest
What a cool and heartwarming story!
Thanks for posting it. May God give you the grace and strength to continue down the path He has for you.
Rev North
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