Can divorced men become priests?

[estesbob]

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.

They have to wait until their youngest child is 18 HOWEVER the age is determined from date of conception-not Birth.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

They have to wait until their youngest child is 18 HOWEVER the age is determined from date of conception-not Birth.

Yes, this is the minimum age set but some dioceses and (especially) many religious orders have a higher age set.

No one can know the date of conception so I find that hard to believe.

 

[scared]

ByzCath:

I would disagree with you about the children having to be 18. I know of one case where the priest’s child is still young. The mother has the child. The child is supported by the family on behalf of the priest. Also turned away because he is supporting his parents? I don’t think so. If that was the case there would be far less priests than there are now.

Further if there is an anulment it is up to the bishop or order to accept him, it doesn’t always go through the Holy See.

scared

 

[estesbob]

Yes, this is the minimum age set but some dioceses and (especially) many religious orders have a higher age set.

No one can know the date of conception so I find that hard to believe.

In my friends case his son was over 17 years 3 months old and the Bishop said that made him 18. Of course who was to question the Bishop?

 

[estesbob]

ByzCath:

I would disagree with you about the children having to be 18. I know of one case where the priest’s child is still young. The mother has the child. The child is supported by the family on behalf of the priest. Also turned away because he is supporting his parents? I don’t think so. If that was the case there would be far less priests than there are now.

Further if there is an anulment it is up to the bishop or order to accept him, it doesn’t always go through the Holy See.

scared

In the case I mentioned there was no anullment. They used a 12 century canon law precedent based on a man who wife abandoned him to enter a convent-althuogh there was no convent involved here.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

ByzCath:

I would disagree with you about the children having to be 18. I know of one case where the priest’s child is still young. The mother has the child. The child is supported by the family on behalf of the priest. Also turned away because he is supporting his parents? I don’t think so. If that was the case there would be far less priests than there are now.

Further if there is an anulment it is up to the bishop or order to accept him, it doesn’t always go through the Holy See.

scared

Sorry but they are.

One of the application questions is if any one requires our support. This would go more for religious who take an vow of poverty. Secular priests take no vows so they are more free.

If anyone requires our support then we are turned away until such a time as we are free.

Being debt free is more than just oweing money.

 

[prv]

I think there needs to be a firm distinction made here:

an annulment (declaration of nulity) is NOT the same thing as a divorce. Or are you referring to a civil divorce with an ecclesistical declaration of nullity?

There is a case presented in Roman Replies and CLSA Advisory Opinions (2004? or 2005?) in which a man and woman, after many years of good matrimonial life, each decided they wanted to enter religious life. They were advised to petition the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, then ask for a decree of separation from the bishop and also one, if possible, from the civil authorities (not a church declaration of nullity).

 

[Corki]

They have to wait until their youngest child is 18 HOWEVER the age is determined from date of conception-not Birth.

Just a curious note. The situation that I described above was in your diocese and the man had school aged children. He had to petition Rome, though, and I understand that exceptions were made.

 

[estesbob]

Just a curious note. The situation that I described above was in your diocese and the man had school aged children. He had to petition Rome, though, and I understand that exceptions were made.

His youngest was school aged(a high school senior i believe) the oldest was married and 9 months pregnant. It was a battle royale as I understand it. a lot of politics involved, most of which had nothing to do with his situation. At one point permission was withdrawn and then our Bishop went Rome for a Bishops meeting and was handed a letter granting permisson signed by the Pope himself.

The end result was our diocese got a GREAT new priest.

 

[Corki]

His youngest was school aged(a high school senior i believe) the oldest was married and 9 months pregnant. It was a battle royale as I understand it. a lot of politics involved, most of which had nothing to do with his situation. At one point permission was withdrawn and then our Bishop went Rome for a Bishops meeting and was handed a letter granting permisson signed by the Pope himself.

The end result was our diocese got a GREAT new priest.

I understand the “Battle Royal” was long and drawn out which means the battle started when he still had kids under the age of 18. It was a “scandal” to the extent that he was serving as a deacon for a long time while being publicly known as divorced. As far as the parishioners-in-the pews (my sister goes to that parish) knew, he was a divorced man becoming a priest. I am sure that the parish insiders knew more of the story. I am not saying anything against his ordination, only that it was confusing to many.

I am glad that he has turned out to be a good priest. I hadn’t heard anything more since he left the parish in Katy after ordination.

most of which had nothing to do with his situation

I have heard that the battle was more about the former Bishop’s seminary than about the specific candidate. There has been quite a house-cleaning at the seminary in recent years and I wonder if this situaion was part of what brought that about.

 

[estesbob]

I understand the “Battle Royal” was long and drawn out which means the battle started when he still had kids under the age of 18. It was a “scandal” to the extent that he was serving as a deacon for a long time while being publicly known as divorced. As far as the parishioners-in-the pews (my sister goes to that parish) knew, he was a divorced man becoming a priest. I am sure that the parish insiders knew more of the story. I am not saying anything against his ordination, only that it was confusing to many.

I am glad that he has turned out to be a good priest. I hadn’t heard anything more since he left the parish in Katy after ordination.

I have heard that the battle was more about the former Bishop’s seminary than about the specific candidate. There has been quite a house-cleaning at the seminary in recent years and I wonder if this situaion was part of what brought that about.

One of the issues that came into play was a fight over who took what side over remodeling the cathedral in Milwaukee (or maybe Minnesota?))and whether it was Ok to take out the Old Confessionals. !

He ahd been a deacon for over a decade by the time of his ordination and he got diovorced after he beame a deacon. I dont recall there being any “scandal” at our Parish while he was there but of course i cant speak for everyone. It was an unsual situation to say the least. He did make it very publicly clear that he was not going to marry again as his fist marrage had not been anulled. That was enough for me.

 

[tee_eff_em]

He did make it very publicly clear that he was not going to marry again as his fist marrage had not been anulled. That was enough for me.

Even were it declared null, marriage following ordination would have required dispensation by the Apostolic See.

tee

 

[CRW]

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

The annulment is simply the Church validating that the marriage was not within the teachings and doctrine of the Catholic Church (Separation of Church and State). It has no legal action on State or Federal laws concerning the divorce or the divorce settlements. He is still the Father of the child - Twice now. I wonder how the other religions would take this: Call no man Father!

 

[estesbob]

Even were it declared null, marriage following ordination would have required dispensation by the Apostolic See.

tee

I am aware of that. Like I said it was intersting to watch the whole thing unfold. Let me add this-he SHOULD be a Priest. There is no doubt that that is his vocation . God gets his way no matter how complicated it gets.

 

[whatevergirl]

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.

really? that’s interesting.

 

[blessedtoo]

Slightly off-topic, but does this apply as well to divorced and anulled women who wish to become nuns?

 

[tee_eff_em]

Slightly off-topic, but does this apply as well to divorced and anulled women who wish to become nuns?

That would be up to the particular order of nuns.

Becoming a nun is not a sacrament, nor are the qualifications and impediments (if any) regulated in Canon Law.

tee

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

That would be up to the particular order of nuns.

Becoming a nun is not a sacrament, nor are the qualifications and impediments (if any) regulated in Canon Law.

tee

Except nuns do take vows, so the same restirctions for male religious as to young children and other financial responsibilities.

I know of some religious orders and at least two dioceses that will not take men who have children in college as it seems today that parents are believed to be responsible for the costs of that education.

I don’t get that one. But one must remember that a religious who has taken a vow of poverty can not co-sign on any loan.

 

[cameron_lansing]

That would be up to the particular order of nuns… . . nor are the qualifications and impediments (if any) regulated in Canon Law.tee

Well, yes and no.

In one sense, qualifications and impediments are regulated in universal canon law even though proper law makes those additional specifications as you note correctly. It’s just that they’re mixed in with other conditions in the code and are thus easily missed.

Canon 597§1. Any Catholic, endowed with a right intention, who has the qualities required by universal and proper law and who is not prevented by any impediment can be admitted to an institute of consecrated life.

See canon 642 on qualities.

See canons 643 for the five impediments of universal law to entering noviate validly: §1. One is invalidly admitted to the novitiate: 1º who has not yet completed the seventeenth year of age; 2º who is a spouse, during a marriage; 3º who is presently held by a sacred bond with any institute of consecrated life or who is incorporated in any society of apostolic life, with due regard for the prescription of can. 684; 4º who enters the institute as a result of force, grave fear or fraud, or whom the superior receives induced in the same way; 5º who has concealed his or her incorporation in any institute of consecrated life or society of apostolic life. §2. Proper law can establish other impediments to admission, even for validity, or can add other conditions.

Valid noviate is a requirement for valid temporary profession in canon 656 and see canon 658.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Well, yes and no.

In one sense, qualifications and impediments are regulated in universal canon law even though proper law makes those additional specifications as you note correctly. It’s just that they’re mixed in with other conditions in the code and are thus easily missed.

Canon 597§1. Any Catholic, endowed with a right intention, who has the qualities required by universal and proper law and who is not prevented by any impediment can be admitted to an institute of consecrated life.

See canon 642 on qualities.

See canons 643 for the five impediments of universal law to entering noviate validly: §1. One is invalidly admitted to the novitiate: 1º who has not yet completed the seventeenth year of age; 2º who is a spouse, during a marriage; 3º who is presently held by a sacred bond with any institute of consecrated life or who is incorporated in any society of apostolic life, with due regard for the prescription of can. 684; 4º who enters the institute as a result of force, grave fear or fraud, or whom the superior receives induced in the same way; 5º who has concealed his or her incorporation in any institute of consecrated life or society of apostolic life. §2. Proper law can establish other impediments to admission, even for validity, or can add other conditions.

Valid noviate is a requirement for valid temporary profession in canon 656 and see canon 658.

And it is required for all that follows as:

1. Valid temporary profession is required for permanent profession
2. Valid profession is required for ordination (for male religious going on to the ordained ministries)