Confused...can someone help?

[SHJ-BVM]

While talking to my SD today I commented on something my former diocesan priest had alluded to in an interview. His answer left me somewhat confused. The statement made by my former D. priest was: “Ultimately, solutions to the priest shortage might come from the very top of the Roman Catholic hierarchy. Maybe the successor to Pope John Paul II will consider allowing married men to become priests.” burlingtonfreepress.com/bfpnews/news/sunday/1000h.htm

My SD is a priest who is a memeber of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He said, “If, and when, that became an option for diocesan priests, it wouldn’t affect him because he is a member of the religious order”.

So my question is, what ARE the differences between “religious order priests” and “diocesan priests’”?

 

[deborah1313]

SHJ-BVM:

While talking to my SD today I commented on something my former diocesan priest had alluded to in an interview. His answer left me somewhat confused. The statement made by my former D. priest was: “Ultimately, solutions to the priest shortage might come from the very top of the Roman Catholic hierarchy. Maybe the successor to Pope John Paul II will consider allowing married men to become priests.” burlingtonfreepress.com/bfpnews/news/sunday/1000h.htm

My SD is a priest who is a memeber of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He said, “If, and when, that became an option for diocesan priests, it wouldn’t affect him because he is a member of the religious order”.

So my question is, what ARE the differences between “religious order priests” and “diocesan priests’”?

A religious priest is a man who is first a member of a religious congregation, for example, Benedictine. A Benedictine priest first enters the order as a postulant(one trying out religious life), then passes through the various stages–novice, simple vows(vows of a certain time period, I think Benedictines still require a minimum of 3 years) and then final or solemn vows. These are vows for life. Only after the monk is in solemn vows can he continue his schooling and training and become a priest. Not all monks are called to be priests, but all Benedictine priests are monks first.

A diocesan (sometimes referred to as secular) priest is a man who has accepted a call to be a priest under the auspices of a Bishop in the diocese. He is not a monk, friar, or a religious. He trains and studies with others involved in the care and service of a diocese.

I hope this helps.

deborah1313

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

SHJ-BVM:

While talking to my SD today I commented on something my former diocesan priest had alluded to in an interview. His answer left me somewhat confused. The statement made by my former D. priest was: “Ultimately, solutions to the priest shortage might come from the very top of the Roman Catholic hierarchy. Maybe the successor to Pope John Paul II will consider allowing married men to become priests.” burlingtonfreepress.com/bfpnews/news/sunday/1000h.htm

My SD is a priest who is a memeber of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He said, “If, and when, that became an option for diocesan priests, it wouldn’t affect him because he is a member of the religious order”.

So my question is, what ARE the differences between “religious order priests” and “diocesan priests’”?

Religious Orders can set rules for their members that are different for those for Secular Priests.

 

[JimG]

Br. Rich SFO:

Religious Orders can set rules for their members that are different for those for Secular Priests.

And typically, most religious orders require vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, (and in some cases, stability–remaining with a particular group for life.) So that even if diocesan priests could marry, priests who belonged to religious orders could not.

And as an aside to the entire question: Do you know how much your priest gets paid? Do you think he could support a family on that? Do you think Catholics–notorious non-tithers–would increase their contributions sufficiently to support priests families?

 

[rlg94086]

If they do allow married priests, it will probably follow the rules in the Eastern Rites. Current priests could not go out and get married. One would have to be married before becoming a priest, if at all.

God Bless,

Robert.

 

[JimG]

rlg94086:

If they do allow married priests, it will probably follow the rules in the Eastern Rites. Current priests could not go out and get married. One would have to be married before becoming a priest, if at all.

God Bless,

Robert.

That’s true, and if I remember correctly, if a priest’s wife dies, he may not remarry. And a married priest cannot be selected as a bishop.

 

[Benadam]

The monastic movement was a response to the corruption that the priesthood was suffering before it became identified with the celebate life.

The priesthood was becoming a copy of the secular life in that priestly families were forming with power from wealth and authority from the Church. This circumstance led to men inheriting a powerfull and rich throne as a priest rather than men beign called to a life of obedience and service to the priesthood.

A lay movement of men and women living a life of community and abstinence which developed into the monastic movement became a model of life for the priesthood and eventually those called to the priesthood came out of these communities.

 

[Agomemnon]

Benadam:

The monastic movement was a response to the corruption that the priesthood was suffering before it became identified with the celebate life.

The priesthood was becoming a copy of the secular life in that priestly families were forming with power from wealth and authority from the Church. This circumstance led to men inheriting a powerfull and rich throne as a priest rather than men beign called to a life of obedience and service to the priesthood.

A lay movement of men and women living a life of community and abstinence which developed into the monastic movement became a model of life for the priesthood and eventually those called to the priesthood came out of these communities.

The monastic movement is a response to the Gospel!! We better all get on our hands and knees and thank St. Basil for codifying the monastic communities.

If we were intent on vocations that we would only have men and boys serve that altar as is Apostolic Tradition and the intention of the Pope.

nuff said

 

[Benadam]

Agomemnon:

The monastic movement is a response to the Gospel!! We better all get on our hands and knees and thank St. Basil for codifying the monastic communities.

If we were intent on vocations that we would only have men and boys serve that altar as is Apostolic Tradition and the intention of the Pope.

nuff said

Hold on Agomemnon, we’re on the same side of the fence. You are right that it was a response to the Gospel message to be an example of Christ. The particular intent that motivated the lives involved into a heightened prayer and sanctifying state was to counter the spiritually impoverished personal state becoming common amongst the priests.

I haven’t got the book handy at the moment but it is written by a well respected Catholic apologist who wrote a book called the Gnostic Gospels. In the book the birth of the monastic movement is briefly hit upon and it’s from this book I reference what I said about the monastic movement.

As it concerns women becoming priests. I see it as a disorder of the structure of the Church as a copy of the structure of the Holy Family to make women priests. Not that they couldn’t or that some women may perform the functions as well or better if it were necessary, it’s just that it violates the order that God has revealed for family and community social structures and it is the male that God has endowed for this purpose.