Can a priest have foster children?

[lorosa]

Are priests allowed to have foster children? My child met a priest who claimed he had twelve foster children. Is this allowed? Is it even prudent to allow priests to have foster children, given the sexual abuse scandals in the Church that might make them vulnerable to allegations and suspicions?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

I very much doubt that this priest is raising twelve children in the parish rectory. It’s more likely that your child misunderstood. Perhaps this priest sponsors children in third-world countries through Catholic or other Christian organizations. If that is the case, there is nothing wrong with a secular priest donating his own money to help impoverished children. As for priests being legal foster parents, it is doubtful that a bishop would allow this for any number of serious reasons. That’s not to say it couldn’t happen, but that most bishops likely would not permit their priests to do it.