Latins confessing to married eastern catholic priests

[notredame_999]

In one of the previous eastern catholic threads regarding married eastern catholic priests in Italy, I mentioned the possibility of more and more latin catholics feeling more comftorable confessing to a married priest. Most of you thought this idea was crazy, but a perfect example is on the family life forums titled “NFP: Getting Husband To Join”.

The issue on hand was contraception. The woman mentioned that she has gone to 4 different priests and she has received 4 different pieces of heretical advice advising her to use artifical contraception after the birth of her fourth child.

I suggested she go see an orthodox married eastern catholic priest who can both empathize with ther situation in addition to providing sound catholic spiritual advice. Presumably since this priest has not been using ABC he can be a living example.

I think this situation illustrates my point I was trying to make about the advantages/disadvantages of a celibate and married priesthood living side by side.

 

[smithm29]

Every time my wife has talked to a Catholic priest about ABC, she’s been told that it’s OK. Every time. There is a Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church nearby and the priest and his wife are far more opposed to ABC than any of the Catholic priests we’ve encountered here.

 

[notredame_999]

Every time my wife has talked to a Catholic priest about ABC, she’s been told that it’s OK. Every time. There is a Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church nearby and the priest and his wife are far more opposed to ABC than any of the Catholic priests we’ve encountered here.

were these latin churches or eastern catholic churcehs or both?

 

[smithm29]

The Catholic priests were Latin. The Orthodox priest was Carpatho-Russian.

 

[5Loaves]

Both celibate and married priests are held in beloved regard as confessors in the East. There are Catholic priests both married and celibate who offer orthodox teaching and counsel, and sadly also those both married and celibate who dissident from the Church’s teachings and offer heterodox counsel. I would agree that the Latin Church being a great deal larger has more priests who have had bad teaching during their formation. This has nothing to do with being married or celibate.

I would encourage a Latin Catholic seeking spiritual guidance regarding NFP to contact her/ his Chancery for names of those who are trained by the Diocese to work in this specialty. There are plenty of priests well versed in it and plenty who aren’t.

Prayers for those who have challenges with integrating NFP into their marriage and for priests who lack the knowledge and skills to address well this pastoral concern.

 

[5Loaves]

There is a Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church nearby and the priest and his wife are far more opposed to ABC than any of the Catholic priests we’ve encountered here.

Interesting. I’ve encountered many Orthodox who think Catholics are rather off the deep end in opposing contraception. The opposition to abortifacient methods seems strong enough, although what methods are abortifacient is not always well understood, just as it isn’t amongst most Catholics.

I believe the predominant Orthodox position in the US is similar to what the Latin priests may have been suggesting to the person OP brought up as her example:

permits the use of certain contraceptive practices within marriage for the purpose of spacing children, enhancing the expression of marital love, and protecting health.

the from the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the U.S.A (since you bring up that jurisdiction).

 

[smithm29]

Yes. He wouldn’t outright condemn the practice, but he and his wife were noticeably uncomfortable discussion Orthodoxy’s tolerance of birth control. As an individual (or a couple), they were both opposed to it, and and obviously so. They are Catholic converts, though I don’t know how Catholic they were before their conversion.

 

[Formosus]

In one of the previous eastern catholic threads regarding married eastern catholic priests in Italy,** I mentioned the possibility of more and more latin catholics feeling more comftorable confessing to a married priest.** Most of you thought this idea was crazy, but a perfect example is on the family life forums titled “NFP: Getting Husband To Join”.

…

**I suggested **she go see an orthodox married eastern catholic priest who can both empathize with ther situation in addition to providing sound catholic spiritual advice. Presumably since this priest has not been using ABC he can be a living example.
.

So you made a claim that people would want to confess to Eastern priests because they were married and would be more sensitive to married couples, and then you go tell someone to see a married priest because they would be a good living example. And this proves your point how?

Basically, this poster wouldn’t have gone to an Eastern priest to discuss these matters unless you told her to do so. Perhaps this is the wrong phrase, but it seems like a self fulfilling prophecy.

Even so, I do not think there is anything wrong with that. If the Latin priests are so willing to give out harmful teachings (use of ABC) to their penitents, then it is better for a penitent to seek out an orthodox priest (either Latin or eastern). This particular example has far more to do with heterodox teaching, then it does with married clergy.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I have an RC priest who’s celibate and is the diocesan expert on Theology of the Body. He would highly encourage NFP and would absolutely never tolerate ABCs. He’ll even start quoting from Theology of the Body to convince you what a bad idea ABCs are.

 

[PennyinCanada]

This makes me wonder how many of you who practice NFP have sat and had a friendly conversation outside of the confessional about NFP? I’ve done that with a newly ordained RC priest, and brought some resources to give him. Can we do this as NFP supporters? At least they can’t say “I don’t know a single Catholic couple who follow the Church’s teaching”.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Not sure how many priests can actually talk about NFP, but those I know encourage it and if you want information they know where to point you.

 

[Aramis]

I’ve never heard a Catholic priest endorse birth control.

The closest I’ve heard is “Premarital sex is a sin. But, if you are going to sin such, then be smart enough not to spread diseases whilst doing so. But it still leaves it a serious sin.”

 

[CB_Catholic]

I’ve never heard a Catholic priest endorse birth control.

The closest I’ve heard is “Premarital sex is a sin. But, if you are going to sin such, then be smart enough not to spread diseases whilst doing so. But it still leaves it a serious sin.”

What I have heard from some is “it’s a matter of conscience” in regard to married couples. I’ve never heard an outright endorsement, just the conscience part.

But at least in my church, they advertise NFP counseling in the bulletin and where a couple can go for it. That is more than some do.

 

[Little_Boy_Lost]

NFP can be abused like so many other things in life. I think there are definitely NFP advocates that effectively use it to avoid having a large family and close themselves, perhaps unwittingly to life.

I think the idea is to help space children and after 4 or 5 kids (A respectable number these days) that a couple can naturally keep their intimacy and still have brought forth abundant life in this world.

 

[maryjk]

NFP can be abused like so many other things in life. I think there are definitely NFP advocates that effectively use it to avoid having a large family and close themselves, perhaps unwittingly to life.

I think the idea is to help space children and after 4 or 5 kids (A respectable number these days) that a couple can naturally keep their intimacy and still have brought forth abundant life in this world.

But it shouldn’t be used, lets say, if a woman shouldn’t have more children? Right.

Only if it is used to space children OR after 4 or 5 children.

How about as the Church says, it can be used for serious reasons?

 

[Little_Boy_Lost]

But it shouldn’t be used, lets say, if a woman shouldn’t have more children? Right.

Only if it is used to space children OR after 4 or 5 children.

How about as the Church says, it can be used for serious reasons?

Lol, that’s an example. People should have as many children as they can support. I just think given economic constraints and the decreasing birthrate, that’s an acceptable number. I think metropolitan jonah in his speech said 4 or 5 children as well when referring to planing families.

 

[KostyaJMJ]

I prefer to confess to either a married priest, one who used to be married, or even one who is attracted to women. It is easier for me to relate to heterosexual men and I find many celibate priests have different tendencies and face different temptations than me. Nothing personal at all - I simply feel more at ease. I’ve also asked many different celibate priests about NFP and contraception and I’ve been advised numerous times to get sterilised. So yes, noterdame, I agree with you, but I’ve kept my mouth shut so as not to get flamed.

 

[gmcbroom]

Where I live I’ve confessed to which ever priest is available. I’ve confessed to my Maronite Priest as well as 2 different Latin Priests. To confess is the key, the one most available is the one I go to. I don’t play favorites because a Catholic priest is a Catholic priest regardless of suri irius.