Can a person become a priest when they have a well controlled mental illness?

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Hey I thought I should reply because I am a woman who has had previous mental health issues, on meds but coming off very very slowly, I must admit my dream is gone to be a fully contemplative nun because I have been told they wont take me because the risk that Ill have symptoms is high. This is not what I think, but what they think. Though, just when I gave up all hope that I could be any sort of a Sister, I was talking to someone in the fiel I was doing my work placement at for my course and said how I want to be a nun, and they happened to know someone who is a Daughter of Charity. He organized for us to meet eachother, and I have since found out that they would be likely willing to accept me even if I was still on medicine. My point here is, if you really have a desire for a religious vocation, relax, IT WILL FIND YOU… I mean dont fully let the idea go, but dont stress too much about it if its what youre meant to do a situation will present itself. Perhaps consider being a Brother or a Deacon, I believe they could be less stressful, especially if you were to be a Brother as they arent as highly responsible as Priests. I think I should mention though, that if you do have a desire for a religious vocation, that is the first sign of a vocation DESIRE FOR IT!! So remember as long as you have that desire dont give up. There is generally a reason you are feeling that way. On the other hand, if you are intersted in religious vocation because you have fears of ordinary life… just remember any life with God as number one is not ordinary. You dont have to be in an order to be godly.
Feel free to PM me if you would like to chat. I would be interested to talk to you.
God bless you 🙂
 
WoundedIcon said:
I want to be a priest, but I just got turned down right off the bat for the religious priesthood because of my illness. It’s some severe stuff, but honestly with medication and patching myself up over the years the people I meet wouldn’t have the faintest clue without being told. Problem is, the illnesses impact my emotions and ability to deal with social stress. Not severely, but honestly I think I’m screwed regardless.

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
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________________________________________________________________________You would not qualify because you would have an IMPEDIMENT which means that your ordination woujld be invalid and ilicit,

JESUS I TRUST IN YOU

jr
 
Jim_Roberts said:
________________________________________________________________________You would not qualify because you would have an IMPEDIMENT which means that your ordination woujld be invalid and ilicit,

JESUS I TRUST IN YOU

jr
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If you feel called get healing. If you are truly called God will open doors for you That simple Scoob
 
Jim_Roberts said:
________________________________________________________________________You would not qualify because you would have an IMPEDIMENT which means that your ordination woujld be invalid and ilicit,

JESUS I TRUST IN YOU

jr
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More precisely, it’s an irregularity. But canon law states that it only prevents me from being ordained if, after professional examination, I am shown to be unfit. Otherwise the bishop can give the go ahead. It’s not an all or nothing proposition. If you’re sick but function well and are stable then it doesn’t matter in the eyes of Church law.
 
WoundedIcon said:
More precisely, it’s an irregularity. But canon law states that it only prevents me from being ordained if, after professional examination, I am shown to be unfit. Otherwise the bishop can give the go ahead. It’s not an all or nothing proposition. If you’re sick but function well and are stable then it doesn’t matter in the eyes of Church law.
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That is true as there are a few seminarians that are handicaped and have preexisting conditions and all kinds of things. Age is a problem for one diocese but an asset in the minds of another. As I said keep trusting and praying and seek healing. God bless Scoob.
 
scoobydoo6v92 said:
Right. I totally agree. What bothers me is when someone is turned away at the first meeting. But yes once you are in seminary it is when your discernment really starts and ordination is not gauranteed or promised, rather seminary is a way to see if you really are called or not,and is up to the seminary and Church of course guided by the Holy Ghost. But what I dissagree with when I hear these stories of guys that don’t even get past the first interview. That I have the problem with. Not the time it takes for ordination nor the fact it isn’t promised and you’re right. But we all have a right to be allowed to discern whether or not God is calling us. In my case I don’t know. I have a pretty good idea but I don’t know, That i will find out in time. God Bless Scoob.
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Seminary costs money and the church does not have the obligation to provide that type of education to anyone who is curious.

As others have said, if you are turned away at a preliminary meeting, you can investigate other orders or diocese. It behooves those who are discerning to have reasonable expections and to have done some homework ahead of time. Speak to the vocations director in the diocese, participate in whatever programs are offered there, research orders, find out what expectations are, do what is required to meet those expectations–health, education, paying off debt, etc…

The work that most priests and religious (men and women) do is highly taxing both physically and mentally. They have an absolute right to ensure that the people they accept into formation meet the criteria that they have found over time to be appropriate. Yes, each person is judged individually, but no one has the right to demand special favors or privileges in the process.

Also, religious life is not a consolation prize for those who do not want to deal with the ‘real world’. Fear of work, commitment, or responsibility are not traits that any formation director is looking for.
 
scoobydoo6v92 said:
even women for the priesthoodQUOTE

absolutly NOT!! only men should be priests only men.

If I am told by the Church the rector or bishop I am not called.** Fine at least I was able to discern in seminary. and then I know beyond any doubt that I am not called and can go on with my life and seek what God wants.** Yes I feel that God calls I feel that there has to be some desire for what vocaiton you are called to. As for me I am not attracted to married life single life nor religious life,

I would like your opinion on one thing, Do you think it is God that is allowing me to get this far?? to be accepted by my diocese and seminary? or is it dumb luck?
we are in agreement at least that ordination is not a right.

When I finaly got past the first meeting and it lasted three hours (not 5 minutes after driving 3000 mile round trip on my dime) and then was allowed the next step which was physcological test. Passed that, then the next step was the 4 person meeting. Not everyone gets past the second step. If I didn’t get past the second step then I would have been ok with that, But at least I was allowed to go as far as allowed by the process, I am now accused of allowing women to ordination and wierdos and all that, NO I don’t think that every Tom Richard and Harry or Sally be allowed to ordination. But sometimes I think that people are turned away too quick,and like the OP don’t give up if he felt that he is shown the door a little to quick.The OP if he passes the Physcological profile then on to the next step. I certainly DO NOT agree with women being priests let’s get that straight!!! Not that women can’t hold powerful positions in the church like running a Catholic School or Hostpitals. Talk about responsibility. Just like men can’t have babies just isn’t possible just as women being priests. Not going to happen never.
Scoob.
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But perhaps God is speaking to the man through the rejection from the order/diocese? Why should he spend 6 years discerning through seminary if this is not God’s calling to him? Priests and religious have a high expectation of obedience to their superiors. It perhpas begins with accepting in obedience that even the process of seminary is not open. Apparently, you feel that each diocese or order should spend hours and hours with each man who applies. That is a simply not possible. If it is apparent that an applicant does not met the basica criteria, there is no reason to continue with hours of interviews and the process of phycological testing which is both time consuming and expensive. You would never suggest that a secular employer spend hours interviewing each candidate who submits a resume if they know in advance there is no match. The church is not in the business of raising false hopes. It is better to state upfront if a candidate will not be a fit.
 
formerlysure said:
This is not an all or nothing proposition. You can choose a celibate life whether or not you are permitted to enter a religious life. You can also choose a life of serving and helping others either inside or outside of the priesthood.

I know two men who are unmarried and have had difficult pasts including mental illness, and one is recovering from substance abuse. Both have built rewarding lives of service which are not focused on material goods. In many ways, their lives mirror the priesthood in that they live on very little, put others first, are prayerful, live in accordance with their faith and live the words the pray. One runs halfway houses for men in transition from various hardship circumstances. The other started a food pantry and meal program for the poor, and also visits prison inmates.

As a priest, you should consider what type of work you would most be drawn to within that vocation. Then if you are not permitted to be a priest, consider how you could still do that same work as a lay person. You would not be permitted to grant the sacraments, but for example, if you were looking forward to counseling people, to teaching, to helping the poor, etc., all of those roles are available to the laity as well.
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Excellent advice for us all. We do not have to wait for some ideal tomorrow to begin our work for God. We can begin now even without marriage, higher education, ordination, money, etc. Children and teens have done amazing things for God and been cannonized. Surely even with health issues, we can at least make a start on what God expects from us.
 
WoundedIcon said:
Well, I noticed that when I received the anointing of the sick my mood swings considerably subsided, but I’m not so sure about the rest of the illness and don’t want to risk getting off the meds.
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Please don’t consider going off your medicine without a doctor’s supervision. No one suggests that a diabetic just kick their insulin, or that someone with heart disease simple stop taking meds. Just because your illness is in your brain and not your pancareas so no reason to consider that medication is bad.

In fact, it stands to reason that someone with a well-controlled illness, who is careful and responsible with their treatments, would be much more likely to be looked on favorably by a diocese or order, than someone who is constantly going on and off medication and isn’t following their doctor’s instructions.
 
WoundedIcon said:
As a person with PTSD, you don’t need to remind me that life isn’t fair. And when it comes to policies, let me ask you which diocese failed to follow them with scoob - the first or the second? If they have the same policies, why the opposite results? Human error, one way or the other. Just because a person is affiliated with the Church doesn’t mean they do things right. There’s no such thing as an objective application of Church policy when human employees are involved, so I’m free to see how much subjectivity is involved, of what kind, and whether it was just. We’re talking about nuances here, not the hard-and-fast policies anyways. Rejecting a homosexual is one thing, but what about rejecting someone because of subtleties like personality? What if one diocese wants more sensitive people and another wants more straightforward people? So one boots ya and the other ordains ya. What if your diocese is left-leaning and you’re a traditionalist?
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It is the bishop of each diocese who determines the need and criteria at the time for each diocese. We know and expect that secular businesses might change criteria over time, or in different office locations, why shouldn’t the church? Yes there are some universal criteria (like the Pope’s recent statement about men with SSA), but their are also local requirements.

One bishop says that men without secondary education are not eligible, another says that education is not a deal-breaker. Perhaps the second bishop has more money to spend on his seminarians education, perhaps he is conducting something of an experiment and will later change his mind. Even so, the church says that if the bishop/religious superior does not finally offer ordination or final vows, you do not have a vocation. This is true despite however much seminary or formation a man may have gone through.

If accepted with grace and humility, this decision is freeing. You are now able to pursue other avenues – marriage, secular career, etc. without the shadow of a possible vocation hanging over you.
 
WoundedIcon said:
Well, it’s kinda hard to get therapy when you’re weary of medical professionals since they helped hurt you growing up! But I worry when someone is told, at the first conversation, that they shouldn’t waste their time because of their diagnoses. I could see being given a psychological exam, failing, and then being turned out. That makes sense. What doesn’t pan out is painting me with the broad brush of the mentally ill. Some, maybe most, never reach the level of healing I have. But that shouldn’t mean that the ones who do get shrugged off. It’s almost like I could be become totally normal and I’d still be turned down just on the basis of the words affixed to me.

You know, I might try to maim the alien altar boy with the mind reading chip from the future installed in his left hand!

^ This kind of statement has been taken out of context so many times in my past… urgh. I got committed once because I said something on a Christian forum about how school shooters who kill themselves go to hell. Somehow that was a death threat I guess.
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It sounds like you are actually doing very well. SecretGarden has a wonderful suggestion for focusing on the possibles instead of on what you have been turned away from. I do want to point out that as you probably very well know, the kind of testing done for religious life is extensive and very expensive. It is prudent for a diocese or order to have some preliminary criteria for judging candidates before getting to that step. For you, I do think it would be better to focus on what you can do right now in the situation you are in and not think too much about other possibilities. Offer to train the altar servers, or become a master of ceremonies, be a lector, teach CCD, volunteer in a hospice or soup kitchen. All this work is done by priests, but can be shared by the laity. We all, whatever our desires for a vocation, need to focus more on the present and the possible and less on pining for a dream or our own making.
 
catharina said:
Mrs Sally - your posts have been wonderful!
I thank you so much.
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Thank you! I did discern a vocation to religious life before marriage and went through several years of formation. The order and I came to a mutual decision that religious life was not for me and I am grateful for the experience. But it does give insight into why an order/diocese may turn someone away before investing that time. And the problems of having people in formation who should not be there are very real. An mistaken error of ‘charity’ can cause serious problems for the whole group in formation.
 
Mrs_Sally said:
But perhaps God is speaking to the man through the rejection from the order/diocese? Why should he spend 6 years discerning through seminary if this is not God’s calling to him? Priests and religious have a high expectation of obedience to their superiors. It perhpas begins with accepting in obedience that even the process of seminary is not open. Apparently, you feel that each diocese or order should spend hours and hours with each man who applies. That is a simply not possible. If it is apparent that an applicant does not met the basica criteria, there is no reason to continue with hours of interviews and the process of phycological testing which is both time consuming and expensive. You would never suggest that a secular employer spend hours interviewing each candidate who submits a resume if they know in advance there is no match. The church is not in the business of raising false hopes. It is better to state upfront if a candidate will not be a fit.
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RIght in my case, no matter how hard or long I prayed the desire never left me. I still felt the desire and God’s hand in this.
So very often people give up or listen to the negative spin on everything. My diocese felt enough that i have a call to spend the time the money on me . They found out through the physc test that I was not unfit mentally my personality lends it self enough to be a priest and I can handle the load of priesthood and the smarts to deal with the academics. So no matter what I went through I look back and see God’s hand in everything. He wanted me to be where I am. The seminary also felt I am called enough aswell as the President Rector and the human formation director as well as the vice rector that I am called to vote me in. With that said what I went through was not meant to be the end but a formation in it’self!! It is so easy when people have what they want or desire to look at other people that don’t have what they hoped for and say tough luck deal with it. Where I am different, I have compassion I have empathy and I know what people feel when they are rejected for whatever reason, Age background what ever. All in all if you are called and people get in the way move around them and keep up the good fight and don’t give up. As a secular world or business world, How many applications do most people turn in before finaly being accepted to a position they hoped for. With some of the posts I read the attitude is just give up and stop searching for a job. What did I do when i was rejected? I kept listening to God and here I am. But there are many more in my boat and I hear so many heart wrenching stories from my seminarian brothers it puts tears in your eyes. Just because I am empathetic or have compassion doesn’t mean that I am a liberal but rather I am very conservative. God bless and may God be with you Scoob.
 
I agree that perseverance is certainly called for. What I have an issue with is the idea that every or any order/diocese needs to go through long interviews and testing with each man who applies.

I also hear quite a bit about men (and women) who say they have a calling to the priesthood or religious life who have not done any research, do not have a spiritual director or regular confessor, who have not even contacted their diocesan vocations director. Yet they complain when the first order they contact online does not automatically accept them. This is not liberal or conservative, it is just immature behavior.

It sounds like you did your research upfront and perservered until a good fit could be found. I will pray for you in seminary.
scoobydoo6v92 said:
RIght in my case, no matter how hard or long I prayed the desire never left me. I still felt the desire and God’s hand in this.
So very often people give up or listen to the negative spin on everything. My diocese felt enough that i have a call to spend the time the money on me . They found out through the physc test that I was not unfit mentally my personality lends it self enough to be a priest and I can handle the load of priesthood and the smarts to deal with the academics. So no matter what I went through I look back and see God’s hand in everything. He wanted me to be where I am. The seminary also felt I am called enough aswell as the President Rector and the human formation director as well as the vice rector that I am called to vote me in. With that said what I went through was not meant to be the end but a formation in it’self!! It is so easy when people have what they want or desire to look at other people that don’t have what they hoped for and say tough luck deal with it. Where I am different, I have compassion I have empathy and I know what people feel when they are rejected for whatever reason, Age background what ever. All in all if you are called and people get in the way move around them and keep up the good fight and don’t give up. As a secular world or business world, How many applications do most people turn in before finaly being accepted to a position they hoped for. With some of the posts I read the attitude is just give up and stop searching for a job. What did I do when i was rejected? I kept listening to God and here I am. But there are many more in my boat and I hear so many heart wrenching stories from my seminarian brothers it puts tears in your eyes. Just because I am empathetic or have compassion doesn’t mean that I am a liberal but rather I am very conservative. God bless and may God be with you Scoob.
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UPDATE: I spoke to the vocations director of my diocese. He said that I was too new of a Catholic for there to be certainty about a vocation yet, and that I should get more involved in parish life and take up some lay ministry or something. He asked me to wait six months to see how all that and my illness pan out before we talk again and we’ll take it from there. So, not too bad.
 
WoundedIcon said:
UPDATE: I spoke to the vocations director of my diocese. He said that I was too new of a Catholic for there to be certainty about a vocation yet, and that I should get more involved in parish life and take up some lay ministry or something. He asked me to wait six months to see how all that and my illness pan out before we talk again and we’ll take it from there. So, not too bad.
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Lovely news.
 
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