Eligibility to become a Priest

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When can a Catholic man no longer become a priest? If a man has children but was never married, can he become a priest? What about a man who had an annulment?

Thanks for your help.
 
Jamestheless When can a Catholic man no longer become a priest? If a man has children but was never married, can he become a priest? What about a man who had an annulment?
The answer is yes, he could certainly be made a priest. Pope Alexander VI had several children out of wedlock, and it didn’t prevent his election to the papacy. But realistically, the RCC would probably have a lot of difficulties with accepting such a candidate today for high office or even the priesthood.
 
In both cases (especially the second), I do not believe the man would be barred from the priesthood. However, if the man still had financial responsibility for the children, either born in or out of wedlock, I believe he would be prevented from entering the seminary until after that financial responsibility was completed.

Saying that, I pesonally know of two cases (one was a neighbor of mine growing up and one has reative in the parish I belong to) where a man became a priest after becomming a widower and, in at least one the two cases, the children were adults.

PF
 
I think it depends on the person and the circumstances and what the seminary says. According to our priest there actually exist married clergy who have converted from other religions. So there really aren’t blocks in place, it depends on the circumstances. One thing he did say is you can’t have been Catholic and left the church, even if you come back. If a person does that they are not eligible for the priesthood, but that sounded like that was pretty much the extent of it… everything else sounded like there were work-arounds. Except social pathology of course 😃 .
 
One thing he did say is you can’t have been Catholic and left the church, even if you come back.
Reverts aren’t qualified for priesthood? I’ve never heard that…surely there’s more to what he said.
 
Dr. Colossus:
Reverts aren’t qualified for priesthood? I’ve never heard that…surely there’s more to what he said.
What I have heard is that reverts who left the Catholic Church for the sole reason of being ordained in another religion will not be accepted back in the Catholic Church as priests.

Now, if they left for some other reason, then they may have a chance.

This would be at the discretion of the bishop or superior of the religious order.
 
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ByzCath:
What I have heard is that reverts who left the Catholic Church for the sole reason of being ordained in another religion will not be accepted back in the Catholic Church as priests.

Now, if they left for some other reason, then they may have a chance.

This would be at the discretion of the bishop or superior of the religious order.
That makes more sense. I figured there was some mechanism in place to prevent somebody from becoming Anglican, getting married, being ordained, and then coming back to the Faith just to circumvent the celibacy rule.
 
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Fullsizesedan:
The answer is yes, he could certainly be made a priest. Pope Alexander VI had several children out of wedlock, and it didn’t prevent his election to the papacy. But realistically, the RCC would probably have a lot of difficulties with accepting such a candidate today for high office or even the priesthood.
Why a problem with accepting such a candidate “today”? Is there some sudden mad rush of single and childless men charging toward the seminaries who wish to remain celibate for the rest of their lives that I wasn’t aware of? I always thought the Church had problems getting enough men to become priests. If Jesus could use St. Paul, I’m sure he could use a man with a kid or two (or three). Jesus had a special affinity for children, as I’m sure you know, so cutting a man off because he has children would seem a little bit hypocritical.

Mike
 
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WanderAimlessly:
In both cases (especially the second), I do not believe the man would be barred from the priesthood. However, if the man still had financial responsibility for the children, either born in or out of wedlock, I believe he would be prevented from entering the seminary until after that financial responsibility was completed.
Actually, that is up to the discretion of the bishop. Several priests are now raising, and have since 1981 raised children in the rectory. The priest with minor children is paid the same as the priest who has none, but the parish rises to the occasion to help with the care and education of the children.

There are several priests who have been ordained when their children were minors. I can name a good dozen off the top of my head.
 
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