Can a former Anglican minister now a R. C. Married Priest be the main presider at Mass?

[CMP2]

In our diocese there is a new priest of 2 yrs. who is married with 2 children. A convert from the Anglican Church.
My question… if he is not celibate can he celebrate the Mass as the main presider? Or con-celebrate? Can he hear Confessions?
I was under the impression that he could not, but can only assist, never be a Pastor, but hold an adminstrative position, and can celebrate his own Mass, not a Parish one.
Just asking as the guidelines appear to blur in this case. Many have asked and have not been given the answers, and it is not clearly written in Liturgical or Canon info.
Thank you.

 

[Debra_C]

If he is validly ordained he should have faculties to administer the sacraments. Priestly celibacy is a required discipline of the Church, not doctrine, which means the pope has the authority to make exceptions or even set it aside altogether. John Paul II opened the possibility of accepting and ordaining married clergy that convert from the Anglican or Lutheran churches. It was well within his authority to do so. Eastern rite priests are also not required to be celibate.

So unless his bishop has for some reason suspended the normal priestly faculties for this priest, I would think he can say Mass for the faithful, hear confessions, etc… I suppose I could be mistaken. I don’t have any personal experience with this.

 

[Rolltide]

He can do anything a regular priest can do, except advance to the rank of bishop or higher. Celibacy is only a discipline in the Latin branch of the church and can be changed at any time. Also, it’s good to remember that the Eastern Catholic Church has never mandated celibacy for it’s priests.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

He is just as much a priest as any other validly ordained priest.

Two things he cannot do: he cannot be a bishop, and he cannot remarry should his wife precede him in death.

 

[CMP2]

To all who answered thank you very much. I accept and must accept the Pope’s decisions but I will take this to prayer and pray that our Church is not “compromising” the rule in Holy Orders that through “former” Papal decisions was made celibate.

So, the Church will survive this as she has survived much. The future will hold what it holds.
Thanks again for your time and trouble to write, God bless

 

[bilop]

To all who answered thank you very much. I accept and must accept the Pope’s decisions but I will take this to prayer and pray that our Church is not “compromising” the rule in Holy Orders that through “former” Papal decisions was made celibate.

So, the Church will survive this as she has survived much. The future will hold what it holds.
Thanks again for your time and trouble to write, God bless

I wouldn’t let this trouble you.

The Church has always had married priests, in the Eastern Tradition.

God Bless

 

[pnewton]

It is a blessing to have such issues become more commonplace, as this is an indicator of ministers that convert. It is no compromise at all, as the rules for Catholics entering the priesthood have not changed.

 

[Brendan]

To all who answered thank you very much. I accept and must accept the Pope’s decisions but I will take this to prayer and pray that our Church is not “compromising” the rule in Holy Orders that through “former” Papal decisions was made celibate.

So, the Church will survive this as she has survived much. The future will hold what it holds.
Thanks again for your time and trouble to write, God bless

Under current discipline for the Latin Church, a priest who was accepting into Holy Orders as a convert minister may be an Associate Pastor ( this is probably where your confusion is from).

An Associate Pastor (also called a Parochial Vicar) is simply an additional priest assigned to the parish. One priest is the Pastor, who oversees the parish, any Associates are priests who assist with the Sacramental care ( Mass, Baptisms, Confessions etc…)

The priest you mention would be an Associate Pastor.

As such, he may do everything any other associate pastor may do. Including hearing confessions, saying a parish Mass ect…

One thing to remember is that there has been no point in history where the Catholic Church has been without married clergy. The Eastern Catholic Churches have always had them. So there has been no change in the theology of Holy Orders, only with discipline in the Latin side of the Catholic Church.

 

[marchoi]

To all who answered thank you very much. I accept and must accept the Pope’s decisions but I will take this to prayer and pray that our Church is not “compromising” the rule in Holy Orders that through “former” Papal decisions was made celibate.

So, the Church will survive this as she has survived much. The future will hold what it holds.
Thanks again for your time and trouble to write, God bless

The Church is “not “compromising” the rule in Holy Orders that through “former” Papal decisions was made celibate.” As many have pointed out, priestly celibacy is not a doctrine but rather a discipline. St. Paul writes in 1 Tim 3:2 - “Now a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher…” Furthermore, the CCC states regarding priestly celibacy in the Eastern Churches: “This practice [of allowing married men to be ordained to the priesthood] has long been considered legitimate” (CCC 1580). And we’ve had a period of our history where priests - bishops and even popes! - were married.

I completely agree with the current policy of priestly celibacy, and I wouldn’t worry about the possibility that the Church is “compromising” anything with regards to it.

 

[Aramis]

One reminder: Unless he is the pastor, permission to hear non-deathbed confessions isn’t automatic.

But as the others have said, yes, he can preside at the mass. He is a priest of God now, and so long as he obeys the rules, he is permitted to function as such.

Keep in mind: The apostles all had wives. And they were the first bishops. Scripture calls for priests (and bishops) to be a “man of one wife”… Celibacy is the change from the early church, not the other way 'round.

 

[bpbasilphx]

The pastors of the local Ukrainian and Melkite churches are married. One has children in high school (and they were in grammar school when I first met him).

 

[Corki]

One reminder: Unless he is the pastor, permission to hear non-deathbed confessions isn’t automatic.

This is confusing. Priests receive their faculties to say Mass and hear confessions from the Bishop of the diocese. I don’t think that the pastor has any control over confessions except for scheduling regular times. A priest with faculties from the Bishop can hear non-deathbed confessions anywhere in the diocese regardless of pastor title.

 

[JimG]

We have a married priest (former Episcopal priest) in our diocese who is pastor of one of our parishes. Of course he says Mass, hears confessions, and does whatever any other priest would do.

 

[CMP2]

We have a married priest (former Episcopal priest) in our diocese who is pastor of one of our parishes. Of course he says Mass, hears confessions, and does whatever any other priest would do.

Quote from Brenden #8…:

Under current discipline for the Latin Church, a priest who was accepting into Holy Orders as a convert minister may be an **Associate Pastor **( this is probably where your confusion is from).

An Associate Pastor (also called a Parochial Vicar) is simply an additional priest assigned to the parish. One priest is the Pastor, who oversees the parish, any Associates are priests who assist with the Sacramental care ( Mass, Baptisms, Confessions etc…)

The priest you mention would be an Associate Pastor.

My question: Another exemption in a Parish? A Convert Priest is now a Pastor of a Parish. Confused, oh yes I am.
Why can’t a convert who is a married man not become a Priest then. Does it revolve around a Minister being out of work? Just because he was a Minister in another Church does this warrant his becoming a Roman Catholic Priest? Why not stay as a Deacon. Not as many vocations available, but this is what he already was.
Another question: If the E. Church allows married Priests why not become an Eastern Rite Priest then?
Just questions that are being asked and not just by me.
Last question: When did the Celibate Priesthood become a Law in our Church?
Please forgive my ignorance but I am looking for an answer. I love our Church and do not want her to “compromise” her beauty.

 

[Rolltide]

Another question: If the E. Church allows married Priests why not become an Eastern Rite Priest then?
Just questions that are being asked and not just by me.
Last question: When did the Celibate Priesthood become a Law in our Church?
Please forgive my ignorance but I am looking for an answer. I love our Church and do not want her to “compromise” her beauty.

I can answer these two:

1. The Eastern Catholic Church has a completely different theology than the Western Church. They believe the same things that we do, but they use completely different terminology and express their beliefs totally differently. It would be possible to do this, but much more difficult, as it would require far more study.
2. The celibate priesthood only became a firm rule in the Latin branch of the Catholic Church in the eleventh century. Of course, there were celibate priests from the beginning. When St. Benedict and St. Basil began organizing priests into religious orders in the fourth century, the new monasteries mandated celibacy. However, ordinary parish priests were not subject to this rule. Many continued to be married until corruption started to set in. Some priests engaged in nepotism, finding cushy church positions for their children. Others spent lavishly on their families. When the Cluny Reform Movement began to fix problems within the church in the ninth century, they recommended mandatory celibacy to clean up a lot of this corruption. It was submitted to the pope, who approved the proposal as one of the last reforms sometime between 1000 and 1100 (I don’t have the exact date on me).

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Why can’t a convert who is a married man not become a Priest then. Does it revolve around a Minister being out of work? Just because he was a Minister in another Church does this warrant his becoming a Roman Catholic Priest? Why not stay as a Deacon.

I think this article should help answer your questions: ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/MARPRIE.htm .

It has to do with a whole congregation (or most of it) converting to Catholicism together. Basically, a “Pastoral Provision” was made by Pope John Paul II, in light of the fact that some Episcopalian congregations, dissatisfied with the direction their own church was taking, wanted to convert to Catholicism. Opening the possibility for their married clergy to become Catholic priests as they converted to Catholicism with their flock was a special exception for this circumstance.

Note that “the Holy See has specified that this exception to the rule of celibacy is granted in favor of these individual persons, and should not be understood as implying any change in the Church’s conviction of the value of priestly celibacy, which will remain the rule for future candidates for the priesthood from this group.”

I don’t think we have to fear that the Latin rite of the Catholic Church will be changing the general rule for priestly celibacy any time soon.

 

[CMP2]

I can answer these two:

1. The Eastern Catholic Church has a completely different theology than the Western Church. They believe the same things that we do, but they use completely different terminology and express their beliefs totally differently. It would be possible to do this, but much more difficult, as it would require far more study.
2. The celibate priesthood only became a firm rule in the Latin branch of the Catholic Church in the eleventh century. Of course, there were celibate priests from the beginning. When St. Benedict and St. Basil began organizing priests into religious orders in the fourth century, the new monasteries mandated celibacy. However, ordinary parish priests were not subject to this rule. Many continued to be married until corruption started to set in. Some priests engaged in nepotism, finding cushy church positions for their children. Others spent lavishly on their families. When the Cluny Reform Movement began to fix problems within the church in the ninth century, they recommended mandatory celibacy to clean up a lot of this corruption. It was submitted to the pope, who approved the proposal as one of the last reforms sometime between 1000 and 1100 (I don’t have the exact date on me).

What would keep this problem from recurring with our “new” married clergy? If it became common practice. We are human after all. St. Paul stated that IF a man couldn’t be as he (Paul) was “then” marry to avoid sin. I take this as the supreme vocation would be the celibate Priesthood. I am not saying Marriage is not a worthy vocation (I am married), but then one can get married and choose this instead of the Priesthood. Both are vocations unto themselves and valued as such.
I know I am chewing this to death, but there is nothing to convince us (I am not the only one concerned) that this is right. I am seeing a lot of possibility for abuse by some not as holy as our present Pope is. The Holy Father approved it, but even then I thought it was for extreme cases such as isolated regions etc. and the people would be completely without the Sacraments. The exception is in danger of becoming the “norm”. AGAIN.

 

[Digitonomy]

Basically, a “Pastoral Provision” was made by Pope John Paul II, in light of the fact that some Episcopalian congregations, dissatisfied with the direction their own church was taking, wanted to convert to Catholicism. Opening the possibility for their married clergy to become Catholic priests as they converted to Catholicism with their flock was a special exception for this circumstance.

I had always thought the opportunity was present for any Episcopal priest, not just one bringing his congregation. But it may be that this is by another means than the Pastoral Provision:

The ordination of married men is an exception granted on a case by case basis to former clergymen of the Episcopal Church (an exception now also extended to non-Episcopal ministers, although not through the “Pastoral Provision.)
Source

By what means are say married Lutheran ministers admitted to the priesthood?

 

[Jerry-Jet]

Does the Pope have the authority to appoint a married Catholic priest in the Latin Rite to the episcopacy? If not does he have the authority to dispense with any discipline that would forbid it?

Does the College of Cardinals have the authority to elect a married Catholic priest as pope–yes I know he would have to become a bishop first–but could they consecrate a married Catholic priest as a bishop and then that same married bishop become pope?

In other words are married Catholic priests of any Rites in the Catholic Church forbidden with no allowance of any dispensation whatsoever from a pope or the College of cardinals from being consecrated as bishops or as pope?

 

[Aramis]

This is confusing. Priests receive their faculties to say Mass and hear confessions from the Bishop of the diocese. I don’t think that the pastor has any control over confessions except for scheduling regular times. A priest with faculties from the Bishop can hear non-deathbed confessions anywhere in the diocese regardless of pastor title.

A pastor or bishop receives his faculties for reconciliation/confession by virtue of his assignment as such under canon law.

Pastoral Assistants and Associates who are priests may or may not have been granted faculties to hear confession.

Priests assigned outside of parishes likewise might not be permitted to hear confessions.

Hearing confession is not automatic for priests. It isn’t a default - it has to be explicitly granted by the Law itself or by the bishop according to the Law.

Canons 965-986 cover the requirements. vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3G.HTM lists them.