If a priest falls in love after ordination, can he get married without being excommunicated?

[Rachaellupin]

The title is rather self-explainatory, but to reiterate – If a priest falls in love after he is ordained, can he be married without being excommunicated? I know I’ve read on the forums before that there is a certian process that makes this possible, but I’ve also come to realize that there are many people who post many more uncorrect things. So, I am rather confused. Help, please?

 

[JimG]

A priest can apply for laicization. I’m not sure how often that is granted.

But keep in mind that the title question is analogous to asking, “if a married woman falls in love with a different man after her wedding, can she marry the new guy without being excommunicated?”

 

[notsmart]

I have read the opposite. In the eastern rites, the priest can marry before ordination, not after. And, I don’t think a Bishop can be married. Now, I have read about married protestant ministers who converted to the Latin Rite, and they were accepted. But, I have not heard of an ordained Catholic priest in the Latin Rite being able to marry afterward.
The other poster made a lot of sense to me. The priest is married. To the Church if I am correct in thinking this.

 

[Rachaellupin]

Thanks, I’ll try to look into the details of that. Do you know if there are any records of it actually being granted?

And in response to you’re comment about it being similar to a woman falling in love after the wedding, I can understand the comparison.

However, I think there’d be a difference because in order for her to marry another man, she’d have to be able to get an annulment, and prove that the marriage wasn’t vaild. This isn’t likely, unless they were both drunk or some other similarly unlikely situations. In comparison, there would be the possibility that the priest either misinterpreted his vocation (which has been known to happen among some religious) or desired to be a priest instead of being called to the religious life, only to find out that he was actually called to the married life. I was wondering if in *that *sort of situation he could ask the church’s permission to be married somehow.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Note that once a priest;always a priest. We speak of priests being leaving, or being suspended from, the priesthood but they are only relieved of their duties and functions as priests. They can still administer sacraments in case of emergency.

Depending on the circumstances a suspended priest may or may not be released from his obligation to celibacy. If he is released from that obligation he can marry in the Church. I know of a couple of cases. I don’t think they were released from the priesthood because they wished to marry; though I don’t know the detailed circumstances. I think the marriage occurred later.

 

[CUAGRAD08]

As has been pointed out in previous posts, there is a process in the Church for laicization. This removes the priest from active ministry in the Church. It is my understanding that this is both latae sententiae and ferendae sententiae. That is it is pronounced by the Holy See, ferendae, (which is the proper way) or by the simple action of the priest getting married, latae, (which has been deemed the improper way. (Note: I have also seen evidence that this is not true, but I think my source on this issue is more credible for the way I presented.)

As for records, you may try asking your local diocese and other dioceses, but that is not often information that is printed and distributed. More often you will get this kind of information from news articles and personal knowledge. I have included the following link that is a former priest who did get married.

findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_n35_v30/ai_15687078

One final note, laicization does not dispense from the vow of celibacy but instead dispenses from the duties of Priesthood. They are still endowed with the indelible character of the priesthood promulgated by the Council of Trent. They therefore must also apply for a dispensation from their vow of celibacy to get married lawfully.

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

The title is rather self-explainatory, but to reiterate – If a priest falls in love after he is ordained, can he be married without being excommunicated? I know I’ve read on the forums before that there is a certian process that makes this possible, but I’ve also come to realize that there are many people who post many more uncorrect things. So, I am rather confused. Help, please?

I have known a couple priests who have left the priesthood to get married. I am not sure the formal legalities of the process but I have heard they have gone on to start families. They were not excommunicated and there were no stigmas that I know of placed on them afterwards, it appeared to go smoothly.

 

[chicago]

There are many “laiticized” priests who have had their requirement of celibacy dispensed and gotten married. As part of the process, they are also removed from the clerical state an no longer permitted to excercize ministry, save in emergency situations. They are even forbidden from certain forms of service in the church which other laymen may undertake.

As far as marital annulments, they are quite common and not at all requiring the kind of extreme situation which one poster noted.

 

[marianna]

I may be very off base and out of line and forgive me and ignore me if I am but…if you are asking because you are a woman in love with a priest please be careful-if the priesthood is his true vocation and he leaves for you this will be on your soul.
As I said, if I am way off track I am sorry.

 

[Spirithound]

The title is rather self-explainatory, but to reiterate – If a priest falls in love after he is ordained, can he be married without being excommunicated? I know I’ve read on the forums before that there is a certian process that makes this possible, but I’ve also come to realize that there are many people who post many more uncorrect things. So, I am rather confused. Help, please?

How does one “fall in love”? Love is a choice, an act of the will. We are called to love everyone, and this man has chosen to be an instrument of God’s love.

That being said, there is a process, although I’ve heard it’s a long one.