Episcopal Priest and 50 Parishners Convert to Catholicsm

[Contarini]

I haven’t seen anyone say it yet,so here goes…As a married man who has been called to the priesthood and who has been turned down by the one true church. I have to think that there might be a big up swing in married men rolling over to the Episcopal church to become preist and then coming back to catholism. I would love to hear others respond to this and please understand my thoughts weren’t meant in some sneaky way. They were meant to finally be able to answer the lords call when the “powers to be” say no you can’t be a married catholic priest. Just for the record this is not the first married priest,but, only in that dioceses.

I have never encountered anyone whom I suspected of entertaining such a dastardly plan. (It’s dastardly because it involves leaving what you believe to be the true Church purely for personal gain.) However, I have had a number of people suggest to me that I should become a priest and then become Catholic. This is somewhat less despicable, but only somewhat. (As a matter of fact I don’t think I have a vocation to the priesthood, regardless of what Communion I’m in.) And I did know a priest who had once considered becoming Catholic and had decided against it, more or less admitting that he did so in large part because he felt called to the priesthood and not to celibacy. As it became clear that he couldn’t stay in the Episcopal Church (at least in the diocese he was in), he began speaking about becoming Catholic. Unfortunately for him, his first wife had left him and he had remarried. He believed that he had a good case for an annulment, but in the end nothing came of his interest in the Roman Communion and he joined one of the “Continuing Churches” instead. That’s the closest I’ve known to someone wanting to do what you describe. But it wasn’t his plan from the beginning–he was Episcopalian to start off with and for a long time after his ordination had no plans ever to be anything else.

Edwin

 

[rlg94086]

I haven’t seen anyone say it yet,so here goes…As a married man who has been called to the priesthood and who has been turned down by the one true church. I have to think that there might be a big up swing in married men rolling over to the Episcopal church to become preist and then coming back to catholism. I would love to hear others respond to this and please understand my thoughts weren’t meant in some sneaky way. They were meant to finally be able to answer the lords call when the “powers to be” say no you can’t be a married catholic priest. Just for the record this is not the first married priest,but, only in that dioceses.

To do so would be very dishonest…hardly a trait that would suggest you are a good candidate for Holy Orders, is it?

That said, there are a couple of options you should consider.

1. Become a Deacon. I’m considering it myself.
2. Consider the Eastern Rite of the Catholic Church. Changing rites is not encouraged, but it is allowed. The Eastern Rites of the Church allow married priests.

Pray about it.

 

[Joseph_McMurray]

Thank you for your comments and especially your prayers.