Can a priest who has developed a speech impairment administer the sacraments?

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eroche

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Can a priest who has developed a serious speech impairment administer the sacraments?

Related questions:

Does sign-language qualify as a suitable language for the confecting of a sacrament, or does the “form” of the sacrament (i.e. the specific words of the rite of the sacrament) need to be “vocalised”?

Is a man who has no power of speech (i.e. dumb) automatically unable to become a priest?
 
eroche said:
Can a priest who has developed a serious speech impairment administer the sacraments?

Yes
Related questions:

Does sign-language qualify as a suitable language for the confecting of a sacrament, or does the “form” of the sacrament (i.e. the specific words of the rite of the sacrament) need to be “vocalised”?
Yes, it qualifies.
Is a man who has no power of speech (i.e. dumb) automatically unable to become a priest?
No
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GBY
 
Thanks Pfaffenhoffen. That’s as I thought.

I argued this point with 2 fellow students last night.

Any chance you are aware of a document (e.g code of canon law or some such) that I can use to show these guys?
 
National Catholic Partnership on Disabilities
Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments
with Persons with Disabilities
Holy Orders
  1. The existence of a physical disability is not considered in and of itself as disqualifying a person from holy orders. However, candidates for ordination must possess the necessary spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional, and psychological qualities and abilities to fulfill the ministerial functions of the order they receive (Canons 1029 and 1041, n. 1). The proper bishop or competent major superior makes the judgment that candidates are suited for the ministry of the Church (Canons 241, sect. 1; 1025, sect. 2; 1051, n. 1). Cases are to be decided on an individual basis and in light of pastoral judgment and the opinions of diocesan personnel and other experts involved with disability issues.
 
I just want to add that a Redemptorist priest friend of mine told me that they have a deaf mute priest who converted from Judaism. He works with deaf mute people.
 
Pope John Paul II had one heck of a speech impediment in the latter years of his life as the Parkinson’s disease took over, but it didn’t get in the way of his administering the sacraments.
 
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