Difference between FSSP Priests and Diocesan priests

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what is the difference between FSSP priests and the average diocesan priest in terms of lifestyle?
 
Well, the FSSP is a Society of Apostolic Life, and not areligious order, so that mens it’s priests are diocesan priests, or the lesser-used word, secular priests. But, the FSSP Priest probably has more to do in a day, associated with the FSSP(meetings, services, son) than a regular diocesan Priest would. But, some of the FSSP Priests live together (so I read, please correct me if I am wrong) so that is a major difference.
 
I’m afraid it is not correct to say they are diocesan priests, in the same way that an Oratorian (also a Society of Apostolic Life) is secular but not diocesan. They have an Ordinary who is not the Bishop. From experience I can tell you they are very busy and hard-working priests indeed!
 
The canonical classification for both is “secular”. Both are secular men, just as you are. The Church applies this term to any man who is not consecrated. If he is a consecrated man he would be a religious.

The differences between a Diocesan Priest and other secular priests who belong to different secular institutes and societies are:
  1. Diocesan priests are attached to a diocese. Therefore they are limited to serve where the bishop assigns them.
  2. Other secular priests go where their society goes.
In terms of daily life there is no difference.
  1. All secular priests are paid a salary and keep the money.
  2. They pay taxes and FICA like any other person.
  3. They purchase their clothing and other necessary items.
  4. They are free to own property. They can inherit property. If the man’s father own Microsoft, guess who inherits it when dad dies. They can be very rich. The Church encourages them to live as the people around them. This does not mean that they cannot be millionaires. It means that they keep it simple.
  5. They do not owe obedience to the bishop or the superior of the society in matters concerning their spiritual life, their friendships, their relationships, their coming and going.
  6. They may or may not pray together. This depends on the local statutes. Some secular institutes have common prayer and others do not. Some rectories have common prayer and others do not. They are not bound under pain of sin to pray together. This is only true for religious men.
  7. They do not make a vow of chastity. They make a promise of cleibacy. This is different. This is a promise not to marry. But it does not bind them to a new family, as what happens with religious. By the vow of chastity the religious surrenders his membership in his biological family and takes on his community as his new family, for which he cares and which he nurtures as a married man would care and nurture his family. Secular priests are not attached to each other in this way, even if they belong to a society or priestly fraternity.
  8. If they leave, they take verything that belongs to them, unlike religious who may take nothing, not even a book.
  9. They may leave the society and join a diocese, if the bishop will take them. A religious may not leave his order that easily. First, to join a diocese he must be a deacon or priest. Many male religious are not ordained. Second, to join a diocese he must have the permission of his superior to leave his community. This can be and often is denied. The secular priest who belongs to the FSSP or Maryknoll or another secular society of priests do not need the permission of their superior to leave. Third, he must have a bishop who will take him, even for a short period of time…
  10. An FSSP and a Diocesan can become consecrated religious. They may apply to a religious order. If accepted, they go through six to seven years of formation to become professed. A religious has a much more difficult time transferring out from an order to join the FSSP. His petition must go to the Holy See. If his superior refuses to forward his petition to the Holy See, the case dies right there. The Diocese and the FSSP cannot disallow one of their men from becoming consecrated religious. Why not? Because they are secular men. Secular men can join any religious institute they wish. Their promise of obedience does not include the choices they make with their spiritual lives.
Does this help?

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF 🙂
 
A minor quibble, Friar… All clergy owe limited obedience to their ordinary, be he bishop or superior. (Dad’s deaconal ordination, and every secular clerical ordination I’ve seen, includes solemn promises of obedience.) It is a far lesser standard than the religious’ solemn vows of obedience.
 
Aramis said:
A minor quibble, Friar… All clergy owe limited obedience to their ordinary, be he bishop or superior. (Dad’s deaconal ordination, and every secular clerical ordination I’ve seen, includes solemn promises of obedience.) It is a far lesser standard than the religious’ solemn vows of obedience.
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I did not deny that secular clerics make a promise of obedience to their bishop or their ordinary. This is what I said.
  1. They do not owe obedience to the bishop or the superior of the society in matters concerning their spiritual life, their friendships, their relationships, their coming and going.
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In other words, their personal life is their own to govern, whether they are FSSP or Diocesan. This is not the case with religious. Additionally, if a religious is ordained, the part of the rite that includes the promise of obedience is omitted. To be ordained, the religious must have made either a simple perpetual vow of obedience, if he belongs to a religious congregation or a solemn perpetual vow of obedience, if he belongs to a religious order.

In reality, religious men who are also clerics owe more than just a minimal obedience to their superiors. The degree of obedience is determined by the rule, constitutions and the superior. For example, in my own community, you never step outside for fresh air without permission fromt he superior. It makes no difference that you’re ordained and the superior is a lay man. He is still the canonical successor of St. Francis and his has absolute authority over everything that you do, unlike the FSSP or the Diocesans.

I must also add, that the majority of superiors do not want to be bothered with requests to go outside to get fresh air. This can be pretty tedious. There are certain things that you just give the religious blanket permission to do. But you have the canonical authority to impose such limits if you want to do so and the religious has the moral obligation, under pain of gave sin, to comply. This is not the case with FSSP and Diocesan clerics.

They can have friends. Religious can only have outside friends if it’s allowed. These guys can go to a movie, have hobbies, and play sports. Religious can do so only if it’s allowed. These guys are off duty and they are free to go where they want. Religious are never off duty from religious life. We can get a day off, if the superior allows it. The superior sets the parameters. This is not the case with the FSSP and Diocesan. They have a day off to do with as they wish.

That’s where I was going with the point on obedience. To put it in St. Francis’ language, “the religious in the hands of the superior is like a corpse in the hands of a mortician.” You only have as much authority and autonomy as is allowed to you. Autonomy that can be taken away is not real autonomy. It’s a privilege.

I hope that makes sense.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF 🙂
 
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