Canonical Impediments and Irregularities

  • Thread starter Thread starter Abtan
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

Abtan

Guest
Hello,

I am discerning the priesthood. I have a question that I would like to ask the forum to see what can I expect after having the talk with my vocation director…

Years ago, I started having emotional problems… I got into self-harm, eating disorders, identity confusion and even I thought I could be homosexual (which thank God I am NOT!) I attended a prayer service that just confused me more… I got into the “new age” spirituality since that rosary even though it was supposed to be Catholic it ended up confusing me and turning me away from God… I received the proper therapy and I have been more than good since then. God saved me from that horrible life that I was living. I got back into full communion with the Church and now I even consecrated myself to the Blessed Mother of our Lord, Mary (St. Montfort Consecration.)

I know that there is a lot there… I don’t even know which impediments are actually impediments there since I never officially proclaimed public heresy or schism but I don’t really know how that actually works…

Can you help me please?

Thanks
 
Do you have a vocations director at your Diocese? These questions are best directed towards that person.

Praise God you turned your life around.
I will pray for your journey into the Priesthood.
 
Yes, I have a vocation director in my diocese… I’m just “afraid” to talk to him about this before my formal process of admission to seminary. I was just thinking about waiting until I “have to.”

Thanks for your answer!

I’ll think about it and it makes sense why you are saying that! Thanks!
 
Did one priest on here already advise you that in seminary you would have to be very up front with those helping your discernment? Then advise you to get used to it with those helping your discernment now
 
None of these are impediments or irregularities. If anything, the eating disorder is probably the most concerning for the sake of your own health and well being. Most diocese require a psychological assessment and this is something whcih you should bring up as part of that as well as prior with your vocations director.
 
@everyoneThatPosted Thank you for your messages! Thanks for the advice!
 
@InThePew What about the “homosexual tendencies” I don’t even know if to call it that way since it was only during a time and it was confusion… Also they are not deep-seated tendencies so I guess you are right it is not an impediment… What about the self-harm episode? (CC 1041 “5) and when I “informally followed other faith (“the new age spirituality”)” Isn’t that apostasy? (CC 1041 “2) I don’t know that if I was young and confused by the world it would still apply the same rules… I was under-age when I got those episodes of confusion…

Thank you for helping me!!!
 
Okay dealing with these one at a time: simply thinking you might be homosexual doesn’t come anywhere near qualifying as “deep-seated homosxaul tendencies”; the prayer service / new age stuff is also nothing even approaching apostasy (you basically have to formally and publicly join another Church) and as far as the self-harm goes this probably wouldn’t count as “gravely and maliciously” mutilating yourself (depending of course on just how much harm was involved but mutilation means more than just simply cutting or burning). In any case, most impediments can be fairly easily dispensed if and when the need arises. Again though, I’d say that, if anything, a vocations director is likely to be most concerned about the state of your mental health for your own sake more than anything else since seminary life can be demanding - priesthood likewise, only more so.
 
I do not think your questions can be answered here. The person you need to speak to is your diocesan vocations director. A first alternative would be to speak to your spiritual director if you have one. It is important that you be honest with those to whom you do speak as you have been here.

Likewise, I always think a forum such as this is not the place where anyone should be attempting to address the state of their mental health. This is best, and safely, done with a medical practitioner or a qualified and licensed mental health professional.

I shall pray for guidance for you.
 
Abtan said:
I’m just “afraid” to talk to him about this before my formal process of admission to seminary. I was just thinking about waiting until I “have to.”
Click to expand...
The evaluation process begins with talking to the Vocations director. Be open, honest and humble. Don’t let pride get in your way.
 
That all depends. If you went through a difficult phase in your life and it is no longer a problem then you might have insight into the problems that other people have. I recommend that you talk to a vocation director and get a good spiritual director.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top