Epileptics can't become priests?

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I was just reading my antropology book (a true story of a Hmong child born in America) and I came across a part that talks about a guy who wanted to become a Jesuit priest but couldn’t be ordained because he was epileptic. Is this true? Why is that? I suppose I could see it being a problem if he had a seizure during Mass, but I just thought I’d ask.

Eamon
 
I’ve never heard this, although it could be a rule of the Jesuits, as they are a teaching order. I once knew a priest who had epilepsy. He was able to keep it under control with medication. And since it can completely controlled with proper medication, I can’t imagine why there would be such a rule today.
 
Canon law has some minimum requirements; for example in the old law blind men could not be ordained but in the current law they are not barred.

But religious orders often have stricter requirements of age and health. You must be healthy enough to fulfil and assignment as work as a Jesuit, which can involve all sorts of travel and other demanding things.
 
I have no official source for this, but years ago I remember being taught that the priest is to be the image of Christ in the world, and therefore those to be ordained could not have any physical or mental problems at all, since Christ is perfect. Of course if something happened after ordination, the man remained a priest because ordination is permanent.

I have no idea if this information was reliable, but, in a way, it makes sense. It wasn’t for practical reasons, but theological.

Betsy
 
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baltobetsy:
I have no official source for this, but years ago I remember being taught that the priest is to be the image of Christ in the world, and therefore those to be ordained could not have any physical or mental problems at all, since Christ is perfect.
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If that were the case, very few would qualify, as almost every human being has something physically wrong with them.
 
I know a priest who is also epileptic. Most people don’t find it disturbing when he has a seizure during Mass (happens frequently). When this happens he is escorted out of the santuary and a deacon or layperson continues with a Communion service. Personally, I find it a bit confusing and disturbing. What peaks my curiosity is how these episodes happen most often during the Gospel reading or Eucharistic prayer. It seems that stress can trigger episodes. Also, some epileptics suffer with a multitude of mental and learning disorders.
 
It all comes down to the bishop (or religious order) to decide who to call forward for ordination.

No one has a right to ordination. Just because one feels a call does not mean a call is there as God calls though His Church.
 
they must be free of mental or physical disorders that could haper his ability to do the job (at bishop or order’s judgement). These days seizure disorders can be treated so its not a problem, same with many disabilitiues, bt some are still a problem. i know its a lame example but say a man was a mute. There might be orders who might ordain him, but that is a long shot and it almost certainly rules out diocisean service.

but cointrasted to this you have to consider cases where a person is ordained despite a huge problem that would usually bar them from service. though priests are made by a sacrament, the finest matter (that is a good holy and called man) for the sacrament is somthing very special as well (priesthood is not a job, it is a state of being for which those men were created for in the first place). Such cases as Fr Eugene Hamilton who was ordained on his deathbed by permission of John Paul the Great, come to mind.
 
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Brain:
i seem to have a death touch with threads.
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Don’t take it personally. Apparently your depth of wisdom sums it all up, so that no more is needed. :cool: Good job!
 
This is another of those cases where there is no absolute rule, much as though in our organized lives we tender to prefer one. Some epileptics might be ordained if the disease doesn’t seem to impair them much. I have often read in secular histories (but have been unable to verify with more trustworthy sources) that Bl. Pius IX suffered from epilepsy that manifested itself only when he was extremely angry or upset. Regular epileptic attacks such that interrupt Mass would be much more of a problem.
 
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