Can divorced men become priests?

[whatevergirl]

If they have annulments…can they become priests? Always have pondered that…anyone know?

 

[Animadversor]

There is no doctrinal or canonical obstacle that I know of. After all, if widowers, who have certainly been married, can become priests, then men who have never in the eyes of the Church been married certainly can. I seem to remember that in the past—I mean here the early Middle Ages and before—that even married men could become priests, provided that their wives consented, that they separated from their wives and that they took a vow of perpetual continence.

 

[scared]

Yes, if they receive annulments and are accepted into the seminary they can become priests. Our current parish priest was previously married, received his annulment and went on to become a priest. There is also a priest in a city that I am aware of that received an annulment and is the father of a young child and he was accepted and has become a priest.

scared

 

[lak611]

If they have annulments…can they become priests? Always have pondered that…anyone know?

If a man is divorced and gets an annulment, he can become a priest. A couple of years ago, there was a man in the Diocese of Cleveland who was divorced (had his marriage annulled), remarried, and his wife died. After the death of his wife, he entered the seminary and was ordained a priest.

 

[Ryan_Smith]

Yes, if they receive annulments and are accepted into the seminary they can become priests. Our current parish priest was previously married, received his annulment and went on to become a priest. There is also a priest in a city that I am aware of that received an annulment and is the father of a young child and he was accepted and has become a priest.

scared

Does this not make him the father of an illegitimate child if his marriage never took place?
Annulments seem to given out too easily in some places. Too bad that modern moral relativism finds its way in to our midst.

 

[scared]

From what I understand even if the marriage is annulled the children from that union are legitamate. I wonder how, but that is what I have been told.

Yes, I agree what happened until death do us part?

I know is some situations it is for the good, abusive relationships, adultry and such, but just some of the other reasons are really questionable.

scared

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

It depends on the diocese.

I know of a couple of dioceses that will not accept men who have annulments but there is no canonical impediment.

Every religious order I have come across will accept such men.

 

[puzzleannie]

Does this not make him the father of an illegitimate child if his marriage never took place?
Annulments seem to given out too easily in some places. Too bad that modern moral relativism finds its way in to our midst.

this is off topic. Annulment has no effect whatever on the status of children. If you want to discuss anullments please go to the threads on that topic. This topic is about the priesthood.

 

[tee_eff_em]

Even a man without an annulment may be ordained, if he is granted dispensation by the Apostolic See. (cf. a recent thread [thread=114337]“Divorced” Priests[/thread]).

And: Yes, Canon 1137 explicitly legitimates children of putative marriages (not that such status means much).

tee

 

[Corki]

We had a divorced man ordained in this diocese a few years ago. It was public knowledge that he was divorced (his ex-wife and children attended the same parish where he served as a deacon) but not whether he had his prior marriage annuled. He had to appeal to the Vatican several times before his ordination was approved.

 

[Ryan_Smith]

this is off topic. Annulment has no effect whatever on the status of children. If you want to discuss anullments please go to the threads on that topic. This topic is about the priesthood.

Because the subject revolved around divorced men becoming priests how can the subject of annulments not be germaine to the discussion?

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Because the subject revolved around divorced men becoming priests how can the subject of annulments not be germaine to the discussion?

No, the issue of illegitimacy that you have brought up has nothing to do with this topic.

Not to mention that it has nothing to do with annulments either as the children of parents who have had their marriage declared null are not illegtimate because all an annulment states is that a Sacramental Marriage did not occur, it does not say that a Civil Marriage did not occur.

 

[Sir_Knight]

what happened until death do us part?

An annulment does not end an exisitng marriage. Instead, it recognizes that the marriage wasn’t valid from the beginning and therefore, the marriage does not exist.

 

[decn2b]

My personal opinion on the whole thing is that it causes scandal. How many Catholics say, " hey a divorced priest" “cool the Catholics allow divorce”.

 

[whatevergirl]

Does this not make him the father of an illegitimate child if his marriage never took place?
Annulments seem to given out too easily in some places. Too bad that modern moral relativism finds its way in to our midst.

it’s funny you say this, because i always felt that way too…until the priest of my parish explained annulments as God’s mercy being offered through our Church. Think about it–suppose you made a grave mistake by getting a divorce…and there’s no way to reconcile…and a child was conceived…wouldn’t you want God to be merciful? ever since that sermon, i never look at annulments as easy handouts from our Church; rather, i view them as God’s infinite mercy for understanding the messes us humans can sometimes make of our lives.

 

[Ryan_Smith]

it’s funny you say this, because i always felt that way too…until the priest of my parish explained annulments as God’s mercy being offered through our Church. Think about it–suppose you made a grave mistake by getting a divorce…and there’s no way to reconcile…and a child was conceived…wouldn’t you want God to be merciful? ever since that sermon, i never look at annulments as easy handouts from our Church; rather, i view them as God’s infinite mercy for understanding the messes us humans can sometimes make of our lives.

Mercy and forgiveness are what we should all strive towards. However, if a man goes through the sacrament of matrimony and then decides that it was not a good idea for whatever reason (perhaps valid, perhaps just well argued). Then decides to make another vow to God that is supposed to be forever. This must call in to question their ability to take their promises and vows seriously and to make the best decisions for themselves. Out of mercy, it must be made certain that he is fully capable of making this decision correctly.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Mercy and forgiveness are what we should all strive towards. However, if a man goes through the sacrament of matrimony and then decides that it was not a good idea for whatever reason (perhaps valid, perhaps just well argued). Then decides to make another vow to God that is supposed to be forever. This must call in to question their ability to take their promises and vows seriously and to make the best decisions for themselves. Out of mercy, it must be made certain that he is fully capable of making this decision correctly.

And I am sure this is done in those dioceses and religious orders that do accept men with annulments.

But as whatevergirl said, those that do not accept these men do so because of the possible percieved scandal.

ps I grew up in Northville Twp and was a volunteer firefighter there as well as working as a paramedic for HVA.

 

[Ryan_Smith]

And I am sure this is done in those dioceses and religious orders that do accept men with annulments.

But as whatevergirl said, those that do not accept these men do so because of the possible percieved scandal.

ps I grew up in Northville Twp and was a volunteer firefighter there as well as working as a paramedic for HVA.

I hope that it is so!

Small world eh! Northville looks totally different these days but still is a great area.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

One other thing that is important to note. A man will turned down if he has a young child whether that child is from a marriage what was anulled or from a relationship out side of marriage.

That is one of the parts of the application process.

A man who is supporting his parents will most likely be turned away also.

 

[estesbob]

Even a man without an annulment may be ordained, if he is granted dispensation by the Apostolic See. (cf. a recent thread [thread=114337]“Divorced” Priests[/thread]).

And: Yes, Canon 1137 explicitly legitimates children of putative marriages (not that such status means much).

tee

Correct-There is a Priest(and good friend) in my diocese who’s wife left him and he did indeed get dipensation from Rome. At his ordination his son and 9 month pregnant daughter bought the gifts down the aisle at the offertory. he says he loves it when people tell hin “you really cant understand the problems of married couples”