Can someone with HIV be admitted to the priesthood?

[Dale_M]

Interesting that in the US at least some dioceses test for HIV. I was accepted in the UK for seminary training (I didn’t begin it though, for reasons I won’t go into here) and while I had a health assessment I didn’t have an HIV test, just a urine sample to cover things like drug use, diabetes, etc.

That difference may have to do with the differing ways in how health care is paid for in our two countries. In the UK, medical costs are ordinarily assumed by the government, so whether a candidate has HIV or not won’t make a difference to the diocese or community which is considering him. In the US, medical costs are born by private health insurance companies or by a self-insured pool of money.

As Br. David mentioned, many private health insurance companies reject persons with pre-existing conditions. And given the cost of HIV care, I can see how providing such care would be a financial burden on a diocese or religious community.

BTW, in response to other comments in this thread, simply living with someone with HIV does not put you in danger of contracting the virus. That was established 20 years ago, and confirmed many times. Similarly, there is no danger from contracting the virus from a priest at Mass.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

That doesn’t sound right - if someones heavenly divine calling is to the priesthood what difference does it make if they die today, tomorrow or in 30 years… the POINT is to serve God 100 ¨per cent until we die.

No I cannot believe this is church policy it must be your persona opinion which I respect but since you didn’t quote anythign official I have to dismiss it as such.

Our holy church would never ever refuse someone just because they are sick it is unthinkable to me so I reject this totally.

No disrespect intended

God bless

You have to understand that just because a person feels called to religious life/priesthood that does not mean that there is an actual Call from God present.

Formation for religious life/priesthood tests this feeling of a call with discernment of both the individual and the community.

A Call is only truly present when it is acknowledged by the Church and the bishop/religious superior calls the person forward for vows/ordination.

If the Church refuses to issue this Call, regardless of the reason, then no Call from God is present.

This is a hard thing from some people to understand.