Cardinal Lehmann sees married Priests coming

[Elizabeth502]

People would wonder if he tells his wife the sins confessed in confession.

Such people would have a very poor understanding of the Seal of Confession, and how seriously each priest takes that obligation. He would be no more likely to tell his wife than current priests are likely right now to tell each other in community living arrangements.

If a priest didn’t have at least 6 children people would wonder if he was contracepting and whispers would start.

That seems to be a tad cynical view (about human nature, I mean). I also think that more people are educated about fertility than perhaps you believe. I know plenty of non-contracepting couples unable to have more than two children.

It would be very difficult to move a priest to a different/difficult or remote parish because of the cost to the family in terms of friendships and schooling.

True. And a good point. That’s why I said most recently that such couples would not be a universal norm for every parish, not only in the near term – I have my doubts about the far term, as well. These would be the priests moved less often.

Daily Mass could become a thing of the past. The Eastern Orthodox clergy don’t celebrate daily Mass because the priest may not have conjugal relations with his wife the night before the Divine Liturgy and I am presuming that the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church would follow that custom.

Can we presume that?

 

[oneofmany]

I think it is a bad idea for the reason that when a homosexual person goes to a priest to complain about never being allowed to have sex if they follow the church rules, the priest can say he is in the same boat and be an inspiration to the person.

Married priests won’t fix the problem of child abuse, we all know married men to that as well.

My BIL is becoming a deacon but his family is grown and out of the house and his wife is supportive. I hope more men decide to become deacons.

 

[Elizabeth502]

My BIL is becoming a deacon but his family is grown and out of the house and his wife is supportive. I hope more men decide to become deacons.

That’s what I said.

I think it will probably happen first with older men. By “older” I mean not in their 20’s or 30’s. Of course, deacons are first being suggested, and it is true that there are a number of older deacons as it is right now. In any case, there is a greater possibility of financial stability for an older already-married priest, whose wife may be in a position to be already working, as well (no young children).

 

[Deus_tecum]

Run Cardinal Lehman’s name through a search engine. There seems to be several issues with him besides this latest.

 

[CutlerB]

Run Cardinal Lehman’s name through a search engine. There seems to be several issues with him besides this latest.

The Extraordinary Form being one of them, for example. He is against more EF Masses. Another one was the criticism of Pope Benedict for having the pro multis rendered as “for many” in the German Missal.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

It could happen that we will see married deacons allowed to become priest.

But keep in mind that married deacons are over 35 years of age, and in fact, most of them, their children are adults and their responsibilities are not the same as when their children were young.

I welcome it. I know some deacons who would make wonderful priests.

Jim

 

[gus]

Admitting married priest would do incredible harm to the church.

 

[Julian_Bashir]

Why doesn’t someone tell the Cardinal that?

I don’t speak German.

 

[Cider]

Admitting married priest would do incredible harm to the church.

The church already has married priests now in both the Latin rite and the Eastern rite. According to some tallys there are more married priests in the Latin rite due to conversion than in the Eastern rite.

 

[OriginalJS]

(1) There is already a significant number of married priests.
(2) There is a shortage of priests.

 

[JimG]

Well, we already have married priests who had been Episcopalian priests and converted to Catholicism. We have one in our diocese. He and his wife had a very large family but their children are all grown now. It would have been impossible to support the family on a priest’s salary. However, his wife did, I think obtain a job with the diocese.

Married permanent deacons could be allowed to become priests. But I think some or many permanent deacons have other jobs outside of the diaconate, or are retired. If they had to rely on a priest’s salary to support a large family, things could get difficult.

I don’t see much support for the idea around here. We have a large number of seminarians, and many of them have told of how they discerned their vocations. Many of them discerned between marriage and priesthood, but I’ve never heard any of them mention a desire to do both.

 

[Lapey]

Since the OP’s links are in German, I’m unable to read them. But the one comment that was cited concerned MARRIED DEACONS (by definition already in Orders) becoming priests. That’s a very different model than the old chestnuts about raising kids, divided loyalties, costs of maintaining a family, etc. There are 17,000 deacons in the U.S. I’m guessing that a significant number of these are retired or nearly so, are empty-nesters with grown children, are already used to giving a significant part of their week to the Church, receive no pay for doing so, and have already built up significant skills in ministry. Accepting ordination to the priesthood could mean that maybe such a man, once ordained to the priesthood, would be the one getting the 2 AM call from a hospital for an anointing; could travel to a distant community to provide the Eucharist where no Mass is currently available; and in many other ways provide relief to the pastor who is the only priest in a parish now. And I don’t think any of those guys would be interested in becoming a bishop!

This is a well thought out comment. Thanks for sharing your perspective; which I agree completely. But I would go further; most would not want to be bishops or priests. My calling is to the diaconate, not the priesthood. Not saying I would not feel that calling if it were an option, I just do not feel any calling in that direction now.

 

[Lapey]

Admitting married priest would do incredible harm to the church.

How…please explain this with fact and not opinion. I am not for changing the discipline, however you can’t prove this would do incredible harm, that’s just silly.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

This is a well thought out comment. Thanks for sharing your perspective; which I agree completely. But I would go further; most would not want to be bishops or priests. My calling is to the diaconate, not the priesthood. Not saying I would not feel that calling if it were an option, I just do not feel any calling in that direction now.

When I was in discernment to become a deacon, there were a couple of ordained deacons who were suddenly widowed. They sought the priesthood and entered John XIII seminary which is for older men seeking to become priest.

Many deacons would not want to become priests because being it’s closed to them, put it out of their minds. If it were open, I bet there would be more than we expected entering the priesthood.

I think if the Church were to open the priesthood to married men, it would be wise for her to start with deacons first. For one, most are over 50 years of age and have successful marriages. Their children are usually adults and their family responsibilities are less than a man of 35 with young children just entering school.

Either way, we need to pray that the Church leaders will make the right decision based on God’s will, not social pressure.

Jim

 

[Lapey]

When I was in discernment to become a deacon, there were a couple of ordained deacons who were suddenly widowed. They sought the priesthood and entered John XIII seminary which is for older men seeking to become priest.

Many deacons would not want to become priests because being it’s closed to them, put it out of their minds. If it were open, I bet there would be more than we expected entering the priesthood.

I think if the Church were to open the priesthood to married men, it would be wise for her to start with deacons first. For one, most are over 50 years of age and have successful marriages. Their children are usually adults and their family responsibilities are less than a man of 35 with young children just entering school.

Either way, we need to pray that the Church leaders will make the right decision based on God’s will, not social pressure.

Jim

I agree with you 100% Jim. I must admit that if it were open to me I’m sure I would have to do some serious praying and discerning; and God willing I would make the right choice according to God’s calling for me, either remain in the diaconate or go on to work towards the priesthood.

I too pray that the Holy Spirit guide Mother Church to make these decisions for the good of the entire Church and the salvation of souls!

 

[LiberalPrincess]

No brainer. The VAST majority of American Catholics support this. According to the Quinnipiac Poll, most American Catholics say priests should be allowed to marry (62-30 percent)

 

[CutlerB]

No brainer. The VAST majority of American Catholics support this. According to the Quinnipiac Poll, most American Catholics say priests should be allowed to marry (62-30 percent)

The Church is not a democracy, and much less one that does what polls say. Then the Church would have to allow abortion and same-sex marriage.

 

[Yerusalyim]

I’m not advocating for it.

I am.

 

[Yerusalyim]

It’s a bad idea.

Peace,
Ed

Why is it a “bad idea?”

 

[JimG]

No brainer. The VAST majority of American Catholics support this. According to the Quinnipiac Poll, most American Catholics say priests should be allowed to marry (62-30 percent)

The question then is, will the vast majority of American Catholics support married priests and their families with their tithing?