Eligible for priesthood?

[hizstory]

I’m not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but I figured someone might know the answer. Can a man who has had a marriage anulled be ordained a priest?

 

[laszlo]

I do not believe that this is easy, but possible. Contact first your confessor, then the diocese.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

Possible? Yes, I know such a priest. However, I have no idea the details involved or how typical that may be.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

According to Canon Law, the only requirement is that a person be a baptized male who is free from impediments.
If one was married and received an annulment, my understanding is, yes he may be ordained.
I would not take my word, though, or anyone else on a forum for that matter. The best thing to do would be talk to the Vocations Director of your diocese.

 

[hizstory]

Thanks for you replies…

 

[sojo]

The fact of a previous (annulled) marriage is possibly not as pertinent as is the question of any impediments - children, child support, alimony, etc.

It is always worth contacting your local diocese person in charge of recruitment (I bet there’s a better term for that… I just don’t remember, but ours has a great Priest who comes to our parish about once a year to talk to us about encouraging young men to explore their possible vocations), or various religious orders. These men are always eager to discuss possible vocations - its what they are there for!

If it isn’t possible, perhaps you can look into the Permanent Diaconate. Just remember that if you become ordained as a Deacon while unmarried, you can’t later marry (at least that is how I understand it).

And regardless of how it turns out, thank you for being open to a possible call to serve our Lord!!!

 

[BertBlyleven]

If you have children and are not Anglican-Catholic or Eastern Catholic, then you (as far as I know) will not be ordained (or likely enter seminary) until you are no longer financially responsible for them, usually when they are 18.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Yes it is possible but it depends on the diocese or religious institute. I know of at least one diocese that will not accept men who have an anullment.

 

[JReducation]

In the Latin Church, marriage is an impediment to the priesthood, except for clergy who convert to the Catholic faith.

When an alleged marriage is declared null and void, the impediment does not exist. The person has never been married, end of story.

Now, there are other considerations. If the man is a parent of dependent children, those children have a right to have a father who is available and that father has a moral duty to be there. Therefore, ordination to the priesthood and religious profession are out of the question until those kids are independent adults. Notice that the rule says “dependent children”. You may have a child who is a legal adult and has a disability. That child is still a dependent, regardless of his or her age.

I am a parent. To enter religious life I had to wait until my youngest son was independent. When he finished his education, had a home of his own and was able to provide for himself, then I was free to enter religious life.

Marriage was never a question in my case, because I’m a widower. However, my children were 4 and 9 when their mother died. I had a vocation that conflicted with the religious life. That vocation was to be a daddy.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

There are also dioceses - I live near one - who will not accept someone who has had an annullment into their dioconate program, even if they are in a current valid and longstanding marriage.

 

[JReducation]

There are also dioceses - I live near one - who will not accept someone who has had an annullment into their dioconate program, even if they are in a current valid and longstanding marriage.

The reason for that is simple. The doctrine of the Church says that Christ calls a man to be a priest, deacon, or brother ONLY through the bishop, if he is diocesan or through the superior, if he is religious. Christ calls no other way, because the Church will not listen to any other voice on the matter.

If a bishop decides that a man whose marriage has been annulled does not have a calling from Christ to serve in his diocese, the Church accepts this as Truth. It is not the will of Christ that you serve in that diocese at that time. It may be Christ’s will that you serve in another diocese or in a religious community or even in the same diocese at a later date, but not at that moment. Christ does not undermine his bishops and his religious superiors even if they’re great sinners. This is the beauty of the call.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[estesbob]

I’m not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but I figured someone might know the answer. Can a man who has had a marriage anulled be ordained a priest?

Yes.

 

[JReducation]

Yes.

Canonically, only if he does not have dependent children and if it is pleasing to the local bishop or the religious superior.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[estesbob]

Canonically, only if he does not have dependent children and if it is pleasing to the local bishop or the religious superior.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

I have a friend who was ordained under these circumstances. What was interesting was the Bishop determined his sons age based on the date of conception thus allowing his ordination even though his son was only a little over 17

 

[JReducation]

I have a friend who was ordained under these circumstances. What was interesting was the Bishop determined his sons age based on the date of conception thus allowing his ordination even though his son was only a little over 17

That’s an interesting way of doing math. LOL

Actually, there is no canonical age for the children. There is a canonical age for the candidate. Canon Law simply says that the child must be independent.

My son was 18 when I entered, but at 17 he owned his own home (no mortgage) and had graduated from high school. He also had a steady income. His sister was in medical school, which was paid for in advance. They did have to go through an interview with the Novice Master. However, that’s an internal thing. I don’t know that bishops require it or other religious communities require it.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[estesbob]

That’s an interesting way of doing math. LOL

Actually, there is no canonical age for the children. There is a canonical age for the candidate. Canon Law simply says that the child must be independent.

My son was 18 when I entered, but at 17 he owned his own home (no mortgage) and had graduated from high school. He also had a steady income. His sister was in medical school, which was paid for in advance. They did have to go through an interview with the Novice Master. However, that’s an internal thing. I don’t know that bishops require it or other religious communities require it.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

It was an interesting situation His ordination was actually held up over an intramural fight among US Bishops about the location of the confessionals in a remodeled Cathedral in Minnesota. Pope John Paul personally intervened (at the request of His Bishop) to get the final approvL

 

[JReducation]

It was an interesting situation His ordination was actually held up over an intramural fight among US Bishops about the location of the confessionals in a remodeled Cathedral in Minnesota. Pope John Paul personally intervened (at the request of His Bishop) to get the final approvL

Now that’s a hoot.

I know a similar case. We had a priest who wanted to become a brother. There are many Franciscan friars who are priests. But if you’re a priest before you enter, you must be released by the bishop of your diocese before you can become a consecrated religious. We had an admission glitch. The night before the investiture, someone realized that the bishop had written a nice letter of reference, but had not signed the release. The investiture had to be postponed.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Corki]

If you have children and are not Anglican-Catholic or Eastern Catholic, then you (as far as I know) will not be ordained (or likely enter seminary) until you are no longer financially responsible for them, usually when they are 18.

Even if you are coming from the Anglican Church, if you have children that you are financially responsible for but are not married (ie marriage found to be null) you would be in the same situation. Your entrance would be delayed until you no longer were responsible for them.

 

[thequeen]

adear priest friend of mine was divorced had his marriage annulled and you could not ask for a more hands on priest he is 90 years old now and he was telling us the circumstances of the divorce which i will not relate on this forum when people found out that he had been divorced they were so against him but let me tell you he has greatly helped my spiritual journey in fact he is even on my facebook page and even posts a blog on there that teaches the truth of the Catholic faith

 

[Cider]

I’m not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but I figured someone might know the answer. Can a man who has had a marriage anulled be ordained a priest?

yes, I know a seminarian that is going to be ordained to the priesthood next year that had an annulment.