Excommunicated Archbishop Ordains Two Married Men as Priests in New Jersey

[JKirkLVNV]

Traditionally, Catholic teaching has been that this is the case, if there is the proper form, matter, and intent. Unless we have reason to doubt the presence of these, the sacraments are usually presumed valid.

But proper matter, in this instance, would have to consist of an unmarried man. He didn’t have the proper matter, did he? I read somewhere in the forums here that this was the reason the Holy See regarded the ordinations as not merely illicit, but invalid.

 

[Digitonomy]

But proper matter, in this instance, would have to consist of an unmarried man. He didn’t have the proper matter, did he? I read somewhere in the forums here that this was the reason the Holy See regarded the ordinations as not merely illicit, but invalid.

You could argue that proper matter would consist of an unmarried man approved by proper channels with loyalty to Rome, but that would be stretching beyond what has traditionally been held. I am not an expert in this area, but the idea that proper matter could be subject to the whims and fashions of the time does not seem right. Since it is accepted that in the past married men constituted proper matter, and indeed in small numbers this is still the case, I am eager to learn why married men do not constitute proper matter in the case we are discussing.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

You could argue that proper matter would consist of an unmarried man approved by proper channels with loyalty to Rome, but that would be stretching beyond what has traditionally been held. I am not an expert in this area, but the idea that proper matter could be subject to the whims and fashions of the time does not seem right. Since it is accepted that in the past married men constituted proper matter, and indeed in small numbers this is still the case, I am eager to learn why married men do not constitute proper matter in the case we are discussing.

I would also like clarification on that.

 

[hosemonkey]

It would seem to me that when any Catholic is excommunicated, his water is shut off, wether he be an Archbishop or a humble layman. He is cut off from the Church and his offices and powers are removed. For example, a defrocked priest can only offer absolution in the case of imminent death, no other sacraments are within his power.