Can a former priest marry?

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Feanaro_s_Wife

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Frgive me if this is a silly question, but I am new to the Catholic faith and find that I have many silly questions, lol.

If a priest decides to stop being a priest is he then free to marry?

I would assume that his vocation is like the vocation of marriage and cannot be dissolved.

So, is an ex-priest still really a priest just like an ex spouse is still really a spouse (assuming there has not been an annulment)?

Just curious

Malia
 
You’re rright, a priest never stops to be a priest once ordained, but he may be allowed to marry. It comes only after being reduced to laity (forbidden to exercise his priestly faculties), for all I know. He would still be allowed, for example, to hear the confession of a dying person or say a mass in a time of great need, like during a war, but not in normal situations.
 
The Sacrament of Holy Orders leaves an indelible mark on the soul, so once a priest, always a priest.

The Pope has the authority to grant a dispensation in order to allow a priest to marry. In practice, the Pope never does this except when the priest has been “laicized”.
 
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Catholic2003:
The Sacrament of Holy Orders leaves an indelible mark on the soul, so once a priest, always a priest.

The Pope has the authority to grant a dispensation in order to allow a priest to marry. In practice, the Pope never does this except when the priest has been “laicized”.
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Also, the two are not automatically both granted. If a priest wants to leave his ministry (he can’t really leave the priesthood), he requests laicization. If a priest wants to marry, he requests the dispensation - two seperate requests. Some priests are laicized but not given the dispensation to marry.
 
Ok, thanks so far.

First of all, am I right in comparing the priesthood to marriage?

Secondly, what are some reasons a priest would decide to leave his ministry? If it is the same as marriage, would it have to be because his ordination was proved invalid? If it is, what about all the duties he performed while invalidly ordained?

Malia
 
Consecration by an invalid priest or bishop would have to be invalid. One invalid co-consecrator doesn’t make a consecration invalid (for confecting the Eucharist or conferring Holy Orders – if bishop). A non-priest can’t confect the Eucharist and a non-bishop can’t ordain anyone, no matter what.
The Pope has the authority to grant a dispensation in order to allow a priest to marry. In practice, the Pope never does this except when the priest has been “laicized”.
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Ever heard of at least one priest granted such a dispensation without previously being laicised? Just an academic interest. I’ve been unable to find out about any such priests.
 
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chevalier:
Ever heard of at least one priest granted such a dispensation without previously being laicised? Just an academic interest. I’ve been unable to find out about any such priests.
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No, I’ve never heard of such a case.

I do know that a few years back, the Vatican opened up the criteria for allowing permanent deacons to remarry while still retaining their ministry.
 
Feanaro's Wife:
Secondly, what are some reasons a priest would decide to leave his ministry?
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Mostly so they can get married, from what I hear. But I don’t have any statistical information on this subject.
Feanaro's Wife:
If it is the same as marriage, would it have to be because his ordination was proved invalid?
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No, as kmktexas points out, because he is leaving his ministry, not the priesthood.

It is possible to have an ordination “annulled”, but this is a rare occurrence, with the consequence of making known that all the priest’s masses were invalid.
 
I think if a priest retires,and he is not doing his line of work anymore,and has all the time in the world,he should be able to marry,becuase his marrige isnt interfering with the church!
 
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Catholic2003:
I do know that a few years back, the Vatican opened up the criteria for allowing permanent deacons to remarry while still retaining their ministry.
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What do you think about that move? You seem to know a lot so I value your opinion 🙂
 
The criteria from what we have been told for a deacon to remarry…is in the case where the deacon has a young family, small children who need a mother to care for them, or if the deacon is a invaluable asset to the parish. The latter is a grey area, since hopefully most deacons are invaluable assets to a parish. The deacon I know who lost his wife while she was delivering their last child, he asked for permission to remarry about four or five years after his wife’s death and it was granted.
 
Thanks everyone… I appreciate you taking the time to reply. My curiosity has been satisfied, but feel free to continue the thread if you’d like.

Malia
 
Yes, cuz i know of a priest that retired and got married and is still preaching at the church. But thats over there in Lubbock.
 
Ummm well, I have an Uncle who used to be a priest and he still preaches at some churches when they need him. He is not married he is still devoted to the church. I don’t think he has ever dated not sure though. I know that once a priest always a priest. I hear he is thinking about going back to being a priest. some of you probably know him fr. Ruben Luera yup that my Uncle:)
 
There was a married couple that led my confirmation class in high school. He was an ex-priest, and she an ex-nun.

While I understand that priests can be laicised and be given permission to marry, having such a person, especially one married to an ex-nun, in a position of authority and education in a parish is in my opinion a scandal. I certianly felt scandalized once I found out, and it really made me question what I was being taught.
 
My best friend was/is the priest who married my wife and I. He later requested laicization (sp) and dispensation to be married. My wife and I were witnesses at his marriage. He is very active in his parish but is extremely limited in what he can and cannot do. For example, he may not serve as a lector or in any other “public” position. He does work ceaselesly for the poor and with the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
 
I know of a Catholic priest who left the priesthood (whatever that means), he has a regular job, and he married a nun (she left too of course). I assume you give up your ability to practice as a priest.
 
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tuopaolo:
What do you think about that move? You seem to know a lot so I value your opinion 🙂
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Thanks for the complement!

I’ve only been a Catholic since 2003, so my opinion may differ from long-time Catholics. But since you asked – I don’t really think too much of having any exceptions at all to the rule of no remarriage after ordination. This is the ideal that is presented to permanent deacons during their formation, and this is the rule that should be followed. For the few deacons who really do have a good reason to remarry after losing their first wife, I think it is better if they leave their ministry rather than create a bad impression due to their special treatment.

However, if there are going to be exceptions allowed, because of the great need for permanent deacons and the hardship on the diocese if they were to leave their ministiry, then I think the new criteria are better than the previous criteria, which were too restrictive for this purpose.
 
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