Can a felon be a priest?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jdc241
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
I don’t think the OP was limiting himself to the theology of it.
 
Well, that rounds out my week. 😦

I’m an adult convert who had hopeful dreams of serving as a Deacon someday, but I “positively cooperated” in someone getting an abortion many many years ago, before I was even accepted into the Church.
 
prof55 said:
Well, that rounds out my week. 😦

I’m an adult convert who had hopeful dreams of serving as a Deacon someday, but I “positively cooperated” in someone getting an abortion many many years ago, before I was even accepted into the Church.
Click to expand...
Talk to your pastor. I believe you need absolution from the Bishop.
 
Of course any bishop would take a serious look at someone with that kind of past before accepting the application, priests are responsible for large sums of collection money of course.

But I don’t think its an absolute bar to ordination. I think the church would have raised the issue as an accuracy point when Robert Blake played a ex-con turned priest in the program “Hell town” a few years back, if it were an absolute impediment…
 
and I think only if there are no immoral or violent charges on your record too.
 
vern_humphrey said:
Talk to your pastor. I believe you need absolution from the Bishop.
Click to expand...
I have no immediate aspirations to the Diaconate, it is merely hopeful thinking right now. I have confessed to my pastor and received absolution - are you saying this was not sufficient? That I needed absolution from the Bishop before even entering the Church???
 
prof55 said:
I have no immediate aspirations to the Diaconate, it is merely hopeful thinking right now. I have confessed to my pastor and received absolution - are you saying this was not sufficient? That I needed absolution from the Bishop before even entering the Church???
Click to expand...
If your pastor has given you absolution, no further action is indicated. You should have no problems when you wish to enter the deaconate.
 
He may have been corrupt but he was never convicted. That’s the issue right now and I can’t answer that. I think it also would have to depend on the crime. I don’t think a convicted sex offender would be considered.
 
The decision is left up to the Bishop. As far as the abortion question or other grave crimes they need a dispensation from Rome.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top