Can a married priest remarry if their wife dies and they have small children?

[Rolltide]

Hi everyone!

I’m in a discussion on another thread about celibacy in the priesthood. I’m aware that Eastern Catholic priests can get married, and that there are some converts from other faiths that were married and allowed to become Catholic priests in the Latin rite. I also know that one can only be a married priest if they were married PRIOR to ordination. One cannot get married again should their wife die, nor can they get married if they are single and already ordained.

Here’s the question:

I have heard that there is a very rare exception to this rule. If a married priest has a wife that dies, and the couple had very small children, the priest may petition the pope for permission to seek a wife again. In this one VERY rare case, a priest could thus get remarried.

Does anyone have any links to articles, interviews, or examples of this ever actually happening?

 

[Snerticus]

I do have a question. Wouldn’t the seeking for a new wife put a definite strain on the priest’s duty as shepherd? Doesn’t having children and a wife to worry about put a strain on obligations?

I myself think that keeping the priesthood celibate is perfect the way it is. I know from my own experience that being celibate definitely frees one up to focus more intently on other things. My life is more focused on God now that I don’t have to worry or think constantly about attachments I might otherwise have had. Prior to this, I had many desires and worries and believe me, it was not worth it. Hindsight is 20-20: I wish I had it back then.

God Bless,
Snert

 

[Lancer]

Short answer: NO…once ordained you may never marry or remarry.

Even a permanent deacon…married when he became a deacon…and his wife dies…even he is not allowed to remarry after he has been ordained. This discipline/rule is being reevaluated since we are getting more and more permanent deacons who are quite young…with children…and if their wife died young (cancer or an accident)…then the young deacon would have to raise the children without any possibility of ever getting remarried…attaining a stepmother for his children.
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The Latin Rite and the Eastern Rites of the Catholic Church follow different rules with respect to celibacy. In the Latin Rite, married men may be ordained to the deaconate, but not to the priesthood and the episcopate.** Marriage after ordination to any of the three orders is both illicit and invalid.** The Church can grant a dispensation allowing those who have been ordained to marry. However, Canon Law requires that a person who has been granted a dispensation to marry after ordination be “laicized,” meaning that he will no longer be allowed to exercise any of the functions of Holy Orders.
In recent years and decades, there have been exceptions to the Latin law of celibacy. An increasing number of married non-Catholic priests and ministers who have converted to Catholicism and have sought to become priests have been granted special permission to be ordained and function as Roman Catholic priests in North America and Europe.
In general, the Eastern Catholic Rites follow a different tradition from that of the Latin Rite. In the Eastern Rites, married men may be ordained both to the deaconate and to the priesthood, but not to the episcopate. However, widowers may become Bishops. **No marriage is allowed after ordination to any of the three orders. **

christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/kephas.html

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Hope this is helpful…
Pax Christi