Clergy joining a Lay Order

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If a cleric joins a Lay Carmelite or Franciscan (or other lay orders) group are they called something different, as they aren’t technically “lay members of the faithful,” any longer.

I am not referring to a priest that might serve as a spiritual guide; but rather someone who is attracted to the spirituality and charism of a particular order that happens to be diocesan clergy.

I recall Pope St. JP II was a third order or lay Carmelite.

Thanks for your help on this,
Deacon Christopher
 
It is a third order. The priest would be a member of the community as a member of the third order. He would continue as a diocesan priest but he would also be a member of the third order as a priest just as the lay members are members as lay people.
 
Diocesan priests are welcome in third orders, oblatures, and lay associations. They’re even welcome in secular institutes if the organization’s statutes/constitutions permit their membership, and they have the vocation.

There are also secular institutes just for priests, if I’m not mistaken.

Blessings,
Mrs Cloisters OP
Lay Dominican
 
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I think there are rules applying to men who belong to a LAY organization, but then become ordained. Priests, and or deacons, continue as members, but I think there is Canon law restrictions as to they becoming officers, other than chaplains. It may or may apply differently to priests, deacons, or maybe religious brothers.

Could a deacon or priest become an officer besides chaplain in the k of c? As a Grand Knight or even Supreme Knight?

I suppose organizations have their own rules, but for Catholic organizations it seems there may be a template.
 
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Cloisters is right that clerics can belong to secular orders, lay associations, or that they can become Oblates.

Perhaps the best way to think of this is as a 2x2 table. There are seculars (including laity and diocesan clergy) and religious (both ordained members of religious congregations/orders and lay members–all women, unordained men, etc.). People can fall into any of the 4 blocks of the table. Thus, a secular clergyman can also be a religious in the ways specified by Cloisters. A diocesan priest, for instance, who becomes a Secular Carmelite does NOT become a member of the vowed Carmelite order, but of the same branch that any other secular would belong to (lay men, lay women, etc.).
 
commenter said:
Could a deacon or priest become an officer besides chaplain in the k of c? As a Grand Knight or even Supreme Knight?
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The KofC is half a century behind on accepting deacon’s as clergy.

Last year in Nevada, we finally defied Supreme and passed a resolution at the state convention.

Per Supreme, a deacon cannot be a chaplain :roll_eyes:😱:roll_eyes: for a council. (Per Nevada, however . . .)

We had a deacon as Grand Knight when I was in Pennsylvania. I don’t think that there is a bar to a priest, but I"ve never heard fit, nor seen any place where a priest would have the tie (although I know that Fr. Robert basically coordinates the knights up in Incline Village, but I don’t think they have an actual council).

hawk, PGK, PFN, etc.
 
There are a couple of deacons (or were) that are Supreme Officers.

I myself am a 4th degree Knight, and a Past Grand Knight, although that was before I was ordained a cleric.

Our council also has another deacon as the Chaplain, per @dochawk comment about Nevada.
I guess my precise question was simply can a deacon or priest join a Lay Order or 3rd Order, even if they are no longer among the laity. Does any permission need granted from his Ordinary, or from the head of the religious order (or chapter thereof)?
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I didn’t know if JP II association with Carmel was unique or if it is generally kosher for all kinds of Secular/3rd Order to allow clerics to join.

I have sinned without number,
Deacon Christopher
 
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Thanks. But I thought there was something in canon law referring to lay organizations - maybe some types other than K of C - that could not have a priest, or any cleric, in official leadership role (other than chaplain).

Book II, Part 1, Title V, Ch II:
Public associations:

§3. In associations which are not clerical, lay persons are able to exercise the function of moderator. A chaplain or ecclesiastical assistant is not to assume that function unless the statutes provide otherwise.

Thank you for your service as deacon. I am 4th degree Knight as well. I was not thinking about the K of C in particular, just wondering about Catholic associations in general. Obviously priests can belong who are not the chaplain, but I never heard of a priest grand knight, or FN. We have a deacon serving as State Treasurer, who was a State officer before his ordination. But I do not think he could be a State Deputy.
 
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I don’t believe anything bars clergy from being elected into an officer’s position, if I remember correctly (Venerable) Fr McGivney served as Secretary.
We actually sent our chaplain as a voting delegate last year to the state convention.

JM, PGK, FN
 
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