Can a hepatitis B carrier become a priest?

[seekerz]

How did you get Hep B?

Really, how is that even relevant?

The important thing is how it can be spread and while the ways listed on this thread are the most common, it’s doubtful that any medical person would risk their necks out to say that it absolutely cannot be spread in a particular way. There are always exceptions to rules.

 

[bilop]

It will cause the trouble to my parish’s churchs,I don’t would to be the trouble ones.

With all due respect, how would that cause trouble?

I’m sure men from your country join orders. If necessary, you could always ask to be posted to a different country.

God Bless

 

[bilop]

Here are the impediments from the Canon Law of 1983. On a quick reading, I don’t see anything about illness.

I think, if you are committed to your vocation, and really are called, you will be able to find an order or diocese who will accept you.

God Bless, and I’ll say a prayer for you.

ARTICLE 3: IRREGULARITIES AND OTHER IMPEDIMENTS

Can. 1040 Those bound by an impediment are to be barred from the reception of orders. An impediment may be simple; or it may be perpetual, in which case it is called an irregularity. No impediment is contracted which is not contained in the following canons.

Can. 1041 The following persons are irregular for the reception of orders:

1ƒ one who suffers from any form of insanity, or from any other psychological infirmity, because of which he is, after experts have been consulted, judged incapable of being able to fulfill the ministry;

2ƒ one who has committed the offence of apostasy, heresy or schism;

3ƒ one who has attempted marriage, even a civil marriage, either while himself prevented from entering marriage whether by an existing marriage bond or by a sacred order or by a public and perpetual vow of chastity, or with a woman who is validly married or is obliged by the same vow;

4ƒ one who has committed willful homicide, or one who has actually procured an abortion, and all who have positively cooperated;

5ƒ one who has gravely and maliciously mutilated himself or another, or who has attempted suicide;

6ƒ one who has carried out an act of order which is reserved to those in the order of the episcopate or priesthood, while himself either not possessing that order or being barred from its exercise by some canonical penalty, declared or imposed.

Can. 1042 The following are simply impeded from receiving orders:

1ƒ a man who has a wife, unless he is lawfully destined for the permanent diaconate;

2ƒ one who exercises an office or administration forbidden to clerics, in accordance with canon 285 and 286, of which he must render an account; the impediment binds until such time as, having relinquished the office and administration and rendered the account, he has been freed;

3ƒ a neophyte, unless, in the judgment of the Ordinary, he has been sufficiently tested.

Can. 1043 Christ’s faithful are bound to reveal, before ordination, to the Ordinary or to the parish priest, such impediments to sacred orders as they may know about.

…

ß2 Dispensation from the following irregularities and impediments to the reception of orders is also reserved to the Apostolic See:

1ƒ irregularities arising from the offences mentioned in can. 1041, nn. 2 and 3, if they are public;

2ƒ an irregularity arising from the offence, whether public or occult, mentioned in can. 1041, n. 4;

3ƒ the impediment mentioned in can. 1042, n. 1.

ß3 To the Apostolic See is also reserved the dispensation from the irregularities for the exercise of an order received mentioned in can. 1041, n.3 but only in public cases, and in n. 4 of the same canon even in occult cases.

ß4 The Ordinary can dispense from irregularities and impediments not reserved to the Holy See.

Can. 1048 In the more urgent occult cases, if the Ordinary or, in the case of the irregularities mentioned in can. 1041, nn. 3 and 4, the Penitentiary cannot be approached, and if there is imminent danger of serious harm or loss of reputation, the person who is irregular for the exercise of an order may exercise it. There remains, however, the obligation of his having recourse as soon as possible to the Ordinary or the Penitentiary, without revealing his name, and through a confessor.

Can. 1049 ß1 In a petition to obtain a dispensation from irregularities or impediments, all irregularities and impediments are to be mentioned. However, a general dispensation is valid also for those omitted in good faith, with the exception of the irregularities mentioned in can. 1041, n. 4, or of others which have been brought to the judicial forum; it is not, however, valid for those concealed in bad faith.

ß2 If it is question of an irregularity arising from willful homicide or from a procured abortion, for the validity of the dispensation even the number of offences must be stated.

ß3 A general dispensation from irregularities and impediments to the reception of orders is valid for all orders.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Here are the impediments from the Canon Law of 1983. On a quick reading, I don’t see anything about illness.

While these are the Canons, a diocese/religious order is free to set their own guidelines.

I know of at least one diocese that will not accept candidates for the priesthood who have an annulment.

 

[bilop]

While these are the Canons, a diocese/religious order is free to set their own guidelines.

I know of at least one diocese that will not accept candidates for the priesthood who have an annulment.

Correct. I just posted that to show that a diocese or order COULD accept him, if they chose to.

God Bless

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Correct. I just posted that to show that a diocese or order COULD accept him, if they chose to.

God Bless

Yes, that is true.

Part of my application process was getting an HIV Test. A positive result would have disqualified me.

I am sure that this is for the future health care costs and concerns. The same might be for Hepatitis B.

 

[cvcatholic]

How did you get Hep B?

I don’t know either,the Hepatitis B vaccine is cost about 30 USA-dollar,but I haven’t Injection when I am youth.I maybe infect such Hep B virus in some restaurant when I am eating,I am not sure.I hear it will be transimit by blood,saliva,sweat or other body fluid.

 

[cvcatholic]

We cannot presume to know what God allows or disallows. The Church does not teach us that bacteria and viruses cannot co-exist with the Blessed Sacrament. If she required us to believe this, why would we be told to not partake of the Precious Blood if we’re sick? In areas with influenza outbreaks (etc.) priests and/or bishops are very careful about telling people not to receive Holy Communion from the chalice if they’re sick. Just think – if a priest has Hepatitis B and inadvertently bites his lip, even slightly, or has chapped lips or a small cut on his finger, he can put his parishioners at risk.

Bishops and vocational directors have a responsibility to protect the faithful. It’s possible that cvccatholic’s director is exercising necessary discretion when he decided not to accept him as a potential priest.

cvccatholic, are you giving service to the Church in other ways?

My parish is not rich,its funds only can support few priests and the Nuns,if I can’t become a priest,I can’t support my family’s living (my father and mother is old,they have not much income).

 

[Cran]

Providing financial support for relatives is surely important, but it may never be the main reasion for becoming a priest. There are stipends for different studies and jobs available

And even of your diocesis is poor, others are not so or are so and are in need of young men willing to become priests and do not object to Hep B. So I would advise you, too, to have a look around and contact the vocation directors of other dioceses (maybe also abroad… many our priests in Germany come from eastern european countries or even Inda now - and we have astipends for those who can’t pay the living costs in the seminary on their own).

By the way, do PARISHES support nuns and monks? I was always under the impression that they are supported by their order.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

By the way, do PARISHES support nuns and monks? I was always under the impression that they are supported by their order.

I know its a bit off topic but, where do you think the order gets the money to support its people?

The order at large does not provide the support anyways, it is the province of the order that does the main support.

 

[cvcatholic]

Providing financial support for relatives is surely important, but it may never be the main reasion for becoming a priest. There are stipends for different studies and jobs available

And even of your diocesis is poor, others are not so or are so and are in need of young men willing to become priests and do not object to Hep B. So I would advise you, too, to have a look around and contact the vocation directors of other dioceses (maybe also abroad… many our priests in Germany come from eastern european countries or even Inda now - and we have astipends for those who can’t pay the living costs in the seminary on their own).

By the way, do PARISHES support nuns and monks? I was always under the impression that they are supported by their order.

There is a “Innocent Mary” nun courtyard besides our parish’s Cathedral,its nuns need to help/servers about 6 main church parish(include our parish).And,some donation to them is from our parish.
And ofcause,support my father and mother’s living is not my main reason to become a priest.

 

[jrnami]

Really, how is that even relevant?

The important thing is how it can be spread and while the ways listed on this thread are the most common, it’s doubtful that any medical person would risk their necks out to say that it absolutely cannot be spread in a particular way. There are always exceptions to rules.

Hep B is usually transmitted through illicit sex or IV drug use. These activities would definately need to be explained. I think its very relevant.

 

[seekerz]

Hep B is usually transmitted through illicit sex or IV drug use. These activities would definately need to be explained. I think its very relevant.

I think “usually” is the operative word in your post. It’s only relevant to the OP’s confessor and to those deciding on his admission to the seminary. Unless of course, he doesn’t mind sharing.

The original issue was whether a carrier of Hep B can become a priest, not whether *someone who has contracted *Hep B through sex/drug use can become a priest.

 

[jrnami]

I think “usually” is the operative word in your post. It’s only relevant to the OP’s confessor and to those deciding on admission to the seminary.

The OP thought it fitting to also bring this to the attention of anyone who stumbled onto his thread. If he doesn’t want to explain how he got it here, fine, but in fact most people get Hep B from illicit and immoral activities. That’s a statistical truth.

 

[seekerz]

The OP thought it fitting to also bring this to the attention of anyone who stumbled onto his thread. If he doesn’t want to explain how he got it here, fine, but in fact most people get Hep B from illicit and immoral activities. That’s a statistical truth.

Guess what I was trying to say is not everybody who contracts Hep B becomes a carrier (able to pass it on, over time, to other people).

It seems like the OP wanted to know whether the carrier state precludes priesthood, not whether getting Hep B precludes priesthood. In that context, why should it matter to us how he got it? We don’t need to know that to answer the question he asked.

Incidentally, even babies can contract Hep B from their mothers. “Usually” is quite different from "always’.

 

[jrnami]

I asked it because I wanted to know and considered it relevant. He never answered, since he didn’t want to tell. Would you care to split some hairs over that?

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

I asked it because I wanted to know and considered it relevant. He never answered, since he didn’t want to tell. Would you care to split some hairs over that?

Just because someone refuses to respond to a question that you have no right to ask in the first place does not mean that we are free to assume the worst.

All it means is that you do not have a right to know the answer.

 

[cvcatholic]

Hepatitis B can transimit from a carrier to another person by sharing food.I maybe have that in restaurant.

 

[debraran]

I think the food one is Hep A, but I’m not positive.

I’ve been a carrier (but did not get the disease) most of my life. (50 now)Never knew it until I had a blood test after a blood drive, and they said I was immune, came up like I had gotten the vaccine, but I didn’t. It was traced back to probably my early 20’s, before the Red Cross checked for those things. I was still able to give platelets, but even though the risk of transmission was less than 1%, they couldn’t take the chance, which I understand.
Being a carrier is not like having the disease. My husband never “caught it from me” my internist never even brought it up, I did. If you have active Hep B, that’s different from coming in contact with it and getting an immunity to it. That in a way, is what vaccines do.
I’m not quite sure what your case is. Just having contact with it without the illness shouldn’t keep you from being a priest.

 

[system]

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