Can A Catholic Become an Anglican Use Priest?

[commander9225]

I am a young male Catholic. I am in high school, and have slowly been drawn into a deeper faith. I am torn when I think about the priesthood, however, because I would so love to have a family. I know I have to resign myself to God’s Will, but in my moments of weakness I confess I wondered what it might be like to be a part of C.S. Lewis’ religion, Anglicanism. I am drawn to the intellectual side of it, and also, of course, the option of married clergy. I can say with certainty that I would never actually leave Catholicism because I believe firmly in the authority of the Pope. Then, recently, I learned of the Anglican Use priesthood and I was overjoyed. I have begun learning about it but it seems that as of now, the only way to become an Anglican Use priest seems to be having been an Anglican first. I am curious if anyone knows whether (theoretically) it would be possible for a Catholic like me to become a married Anglican Use priest without ever having actually been an Anglican? I know similar things are possible in the Eastern rite churches, but Anglicanism has a particular draw for me. Either way, I would appreciate your prayers!

 

[Montalo]

I am a young male Catholic. I am in high school, and have slowly been drawn into a deeper faith. I am torn when I think about the priesthood, however, because I would so love to have a family. I know I have to resign myself to God’s Will, but in my moments of weakness I confess I wondered what it might be like to be a part of C.S. Lewis’ religion, Anglicanism. I am drawn to the intellectual side of it, and also, of course, the option of married clergy. I can say with certainty that I would never actually leave Catholicism because I believe firmly in the authority of the Pope. Then, recently, I learned of the Anglican Use priesthood and I was overjoyed. I have begun learning about it but it seems that as of now, the only way to become an Anglican Use priest seems to be having been an Anglican first. I am curious if anyone knows whether (theoretically) it would be possible for a Catholic like me to become a married Anglican Use priest without ever having actually been an Anglican? I know similar things are possible in the Eastern rite churches, but Anglicanism has a particular draw for me. Either way, I would appreciate your prayers!

The rules for it are

If you are a current married Anglican priest, you will be allowed to remain married
if your wife dies, you will remain celibate the remainder of your life

If you are a current anglican seminarian, you will not be allowed to marry

as a current catholic, you are bound to the Roman Canon Law, and are not allowed to be married and a priest

once you are ordained in the Church, East and West, you may not get married after that point

(corrrect me if im wrong)

 

[nsper7]

On a secondary note, what if one just prefers an Anglican Use Rite? As one who was Anglican before he was Catholic, I like the Anglican liturgy and I like the Anglican Use liturgy–I find it a better and more beautiful translation than the Novus Ordo.

Could I become a Priest in the Anglican Use Rite even though I was Confirmed the old-fashioned way (individually through RCIA at my own desire prior to the new Constituion) into the Latin Rite? Obviously, my desire is based on liturgy and not trying to skirt the celibacy issue.

 

[CDNowak]

Given the wording of the statements, it seems that there is no way for ‘Cradle’ Catholics to join the Anglican Use (in any way) in the foreseeable future.

Nsper may be in luck, because the references are to those who were Anglican, no mention of a time frame for conversion, so he may be able to join the Ordinariate as a seminarian, once it is established.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

If the question is can a Catholic priest celebrate the Anglican Use then the answer would be that it would be up to the bishop.

If you wanted to be able to do this then I would suggest exploring your vocation with the vocaiton director of one of the dioceses where an Anglican Use parish is present.

Or wait until the new structures are set up and speak with their vocaitons director.

 

[fonz]

Hi There,

Pls allow me to contribute my 2 cts worth of ideas…

Did U consider the Secular 3rd Orders?

God Bless!

:shamrock2:

 

[Student09]

On a secondary note, what if one just prefers an Anglican Use Rite? As one who was Anglican before he was Catholic, I like the Anglican liturgy and I like the Anglican Use liturgy–I find it a better and more beautiful translation than the Novus Ordo.

Could I become a Priest in the Anglican Use Rite even though I was Confirmed the old-fashioned way (individually through RCIA at my own desire prior to the new Constituion) into the Latin Rite? Obviously, my desire is based on liturgy and not trying to skirt the celibacy issue.

If you were an Anglican before you were Catholic, you would be able to apply in writing to be in the Anglican Use Rite. Presumably you could also apply for priesthood. There’s a very informative, two-part episode of the “Journey Home” all about this issue. They just ran it. Look it up in their archives.

 

[Bruce_in_Iloilo]

First there is no Anglican Rite, nor is one envisioned. What has been created is the option to establish Anglican Ordinariates that will function like independent dioceses, with ordinaries that could be bishops or priest, with their own priests and parishes, and made up of people with some connection to Anglicanism.

Can cradle Catholics join? Yes, if there is a family connection, i.e. if they are married to a member of an Anglican Ordinariate. Maybe, if there is no family connection. That is not completely clear. Remember any Catholic can attend any valid mass regardless of which Rite or Use. No one will stop you at the door to demand a WASP membership card.

Former Anglican priests and bishops who are married will be allowed to join an Ordinariate and become priests and even the ordinary, but not become a bishop. What about married Anglicans seminarians who convert before becoming priests? That’s a bit up in the air. What about in the future, say a generation down the line? Can those who are married and raised in the Ordinariate be ordained, as they are in the Uniate and Eastern Rites? That’s a bit unclear. Most likely not – it I had to bet NOW – but there hasn’t been a definitive ruling. Any exception from the celibacy rule, even today, must come from the Vatican. How free the Vatican will be with such exemptions is still to be seen, especially if one is taking 10 or 30 years from now.

There is much that is still to be determined about the ordinariates. In a two-thousand year old bureaucracy things can take a while.

And in two-thousand years the Church has learned one thing — don’t make a decision until it absolutely has to be made.

Anglican Use and the Pastoral Provision was issued nearly 30 years ago; that’s the first generation. These Anglican Ordinariates is the second. The decision about those raised as Anglican Ordinariate Catholics being allowed to be married and priests? That sounds like a 3G issue.

What does that mean for you? More discernment. It can take years, including years at a seminary and even after, before figuring out whether God is calling you to the preisthood or to fatherhood.

Have you thought about the Permanent Deaconate? I was at church and the man in the rope giving the sermon started talking about his wife. Pause. Oh, he’s a deacon! Or become a lay leader. There are many ways to live your Catholicism, minister to people, pastor to them, participate in the liturgy, to preach in church or out, without being a priest and consecrating the host.

Also, join some of the Anglican Use online discussion and groups. Visit an AU parish. Attend the AU conference in June. Next Fri, Jan. 21, in DC, there will be an AU Evening Prayer and a discussion of the proposed Ordinariate structures. Come to that if you can.

 

[Manuel_OJoel052]

I am a young male Catholic. I am in high school, and have slowly been drawn into a deeper faith. I am torn when I think about the priesthood, however, because I would so love to have a family. I know I have to resign myself to God’s Will, but in my moments of weakness I confess I wondered what it might be like to be a part of C.S. Lewis’ religion, Anglicanism. I am drawn to the intellectual side of it, and also, of course, the option of married clergy. I can say with certainty that I would never actually leave Catholicism because I believe firmly in the authority of the Pope. Then, recently, I learned of the Anglican Use priesthood and I was overjoyed. I have begun learning about it but it seems that as of now, the only way to become an Anglican Use priest seems to be having been an Anglican first. I am curious if anyone knows whether (theoretically) it would be possible for a Catholic like me to become a married Anglican Use priest without ever having actually been an Anglican? I know similar things are possible in the Eastern rite churches, but Anglicanism has a particular draw for me. Either way, I would appreciate your prayers!

Hello I have read your post recently and I am wondering if you still log on here so I can talk to you because I am having similar problems that you have had thanks

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

On a secondary note, what if one just prefers an Anglican Use Rite? As one who was Anglican before he was Catholic, I like the Anglican liturgy and I like the Anglican Use liturgy–I find it a better and more beautiful translation than the Novus Ordo.

Could I become a Priest in the Anglican Use Rite even though I was Confirmed the old-fashioned way (individually through RCIA at my own desire prior to the new Constituion) into the Latin Rite? Obviously, my desire is based on liturgy and not trying to skirt the celibacy issue.

You would have to become a member of an Anglican Use Ordinariate. Normally you can’t become a member simply because you prefer the Anglican Use of the Roman Rite. That being said, the way the document is worded, there may be exceptions to the rules that none of us can really answer. I will PM you contact info of someone who can answer your specific questions.