Married father of eight ordained a Catholic priest for Pennsylvania diocese

[catharina]

Hope I’m not re-posting this.
What a wonderful story it is!

catholicnewsagency.com/news/married-father-of-eight-ordained-a-catholic-priest-for-pennsylvania-diocese/

"Harrisburg, Pa., Jun 15, 2010 / 02:49 am (CNA).- A former Protestant pastor who is a married father of eight was ordained a Catholic priest on Saturday for the Diocese of Harrisburg.

The newly ordained Fr. Paul Shenck was raised Jewish and baptized a Christian when he was 16 years old. In 1994 he left the New Covenant Tabernacle, an evangelical church he founded, and then became a pastor in western New York for the Reformed Episcopal Church. He entered the Catholic Church in 2004.

He and his wife Rebecca have been married for 33 years.

… ."

 

[Advocatus_Fidei]

Why is he been married and having eight children of any relevance to him been ordained?

 

[catharina]

Why is he been married and having eight children of any relevance to him been ordained?

It’s my understanding there are not many convert-priests, married or otherwise, in PA.
Most amazingly, this priest began his life as a Jewish child in a Jewish household.
That makes for a very rich life story.

 

[JRKH]

Why is he been married and having eight children of any relevance to him been ordained?

I wouold say that it is because it is not an every year occurance in the Roman Catholic Church to ordain Married men, let alone one who has 8 children. I think it is wonderful.
Congratulations to him and to his family and to the diocese.

Peace
James

 

[Advocatus_Fidei]

I wouold say that it is because it is not an every year occurance in the Roman Catholic Church to ordain Married men, let alone one who has 8 children. I think it is wonderful.
Congratulations to him and to his family and to the diocese.

Peace
James

Is the ordination of unmarried men to the priesthood of any less value? Do they deserve less celebration? They sacrifice much more.

 

[Bob_Aliano]

So, is the path to eventually overturning the rule of celibacy though young non-Catholic men intentionally marrying, converting, then becoming priests? A law that has exceptions is no law.

 

[catharina]

So, is the path to eventually overturning the rule of celibacy though young non-Catholic men intentionally marrying, converting, then becoming priests? A law that has exceptions is no law.

Wouldn’t know.
I’m not on that “path.”

 

[catharina]

Is the ordination of unmarried men to the priesthood of any less value? Do they deserve less celebration? They sacrifice much more.

Do you imagine that celebrating one precludes celebrating the other?

 

[Bob_Aliano]

So, is the path to eventually overturning the rule of celibacy though young non-Catholic men intentionally marrying, converting, then becoming priests? A law that has exceptions is no law.

Well. on second thought, that might be a bit over the top but what about the married deacons who would otherwise have chosen priesthood had it been allowed? I know most deacons say they don’t want to be priests but that isn’t true in all cases. Is it fair to them? How can a man who spent all his prior life denying the true religion suddenly be more worthy of Catholic priesthood than a deacon who spent his whole life extolling the true religion?

 

[catharina]

Well. on second thought, that might be a bit over the top but what about the married deacons who would otherwise have chosen priesthood had it been allowed? I know most deacons say they don’t want to be priests but that isn’t true in all cases. Is it fair to them? How can a man who spent all his prior life denying the true religion suddenly be more worthy of Catholic priesthood than a deacon who spent his whole life extolling the true religion?

This man seems to have spent his entire life searching for the true Faith, not denying it.

 

[Advocatus_Fidei]

Do you imagine that celebrating one precludes celebrating the other?

Judging by the fact that this merits a story and you felt inspired to repost that story here while the ordination of unmarried Catholics to the priesthood goes without comment almost unnoticed it would seem so with some people.

Also judging by the comments underneath this story at this link you posted this is indeed seen as a weapon to be used to try and destroy the tradition of priestly celibacy within the Catholic Church by some malcontent’s.

" Published by: T.J.
Chalmette, LA 06/16/2010 11:09 AM EST
Maybe Fr. Shenck can help blaze another path- showing married men can be good priests and help end involuntary celibacy. "

 

[JRKH]

Is the ordination of unmarried men to the priesthood of any less value? Do they deserve less celebration? They sacrifice much more.

Not at all We nned to treasure ALL of our priests.
It’s just that this is unusual and thus more “newsy”.

Peace
James

 

[catharina]

Judging by the fact that this merits a story and you felt inspired to repost that story here while the ordination of unmarried Catholics to the priesthood goes without comment almost unnoticed it would seem so with some people.

Also judging by the comments underneath this story at this link you posted this is indeed seen as a weapon to be used to try and destroy the tradition of priestly celibacy within the Catholic Church by some malcontent’s.

I posted the story.
I did not write the headline.
I did not read the comments.

I posted a story re a Jewish boy who grew up and now is a Catholic priest.
I’m sorry you feel a need to “read” such negativity into a simple story.
That’s your right though. OTOH, you responses are a big surprise to me.
Whatever.

 

[KostyaJMJ]

Judging by the fact that this merits a story and you felt inspired to repost that story here while the ordination of unmarried Catholics to the priesthood goes without comment almost unnoticed it would seem so with some people.

It’s a man bites dog type news story that people see as inspiring. There is no reason for such negativity.

Also judging by the comments underneath this story at this link you posted this is indeed seen as a weapon to be used to try and destroy the tradition of priestly celibacy within the Catholic Church by some malcontent’s.

Priestly celibacy is a practice that a Catholic can legitimately desire to see changed. Wanting to see married priests doesn’t make you a malcontent with an axe to grind.

 

[JRKH]

So, is the path to eventually overturning the rule of celibacy though young non-Catholic men intentionally marrying, converting, then becoming priests? A law that has exceptions is no law.

I don’t believe that this is a “path” as you put it, but who knows what he future might hold.

The scenerio you mention above is not likely to happen since the exemptions granted are very restrictive and generally are for men who were ordained in the Epischopal or Anglican communion.
I don’t see this as being away fro young men to circumvent the celbacy rules.

Peace
James

 

[JRKH]

Well. on second thought, that might be a bit over the top but what about the married deacons who would otherwise have chosen priesthood had it been allowed? I know most deacons say they don’t want to be priests but that isn’t true in all cases. Is it fair to them? How can a man who spent all his prior life denying the true religion suddenly be more worthy of Catholic priesthood than a deacon who spent his whole life extolling the true religion?

In this you may have a good point. Though I’m not sure it has as much to do with “worthiness” as with the “priestly call”.
When a person is already catholic, never been ordained elsewhere, marries and enters the permanent deaconate, he has already made fully informed choices. He knows upon marriage that this precludes him from preisthood.
A man who is ordained already as a married Anglican Priest did not make that same informed choice.

Peace
James

 

[Advocatus_Fidei]

Priestly celibacy is a practice that a Catholic can legitimately desire to see changed. Wanting to see married priests doesn’t make you a malcontent with an axe to grind.

I completely disagree with you.

 

[JRKH]

Originally Posted by KostyaJMJ
Priestly celibacy is a practice that a Catholic can legitimately desire to see changed. Wanting to see married priests doesn’t make you a malcontent with an axe to grind.

I agree with KostyaJMJ on this one.

A faithful catholic CAN legitimately desire to see this rule changed - So long as they act upon that desire (if they so choose) in an appropriate manner, and are willing to accept and abide by the decisions of the Church on the matter.
The ones who are problematic are the ones who go off and try to “buck” the Church.

Peace
James

 

[rlg94086]

Is the ordination of unmarried men to the priesthood of any less value? Do they deserve less celebration? They sacrifice much more.

It’s not a matter of “value.” A father of eight being ordained is news. An unmarried man being ordained isn’t because it happens all the time. From a “value” standpoint, they are both priceless.

 

[rlg94086]

In this you may have a good point. Though I’m not sure it has as much to do with “worthiness” as with the “priestly call”.
When a person is already catholic, never been ordained elsewhere, marries and enters the permanent deaconate, he has already made fully informed choices. He knows upon marriage that this precludes him from preisthood.
A man who is ordained already as a married Anglican Priest did not make that same informed choice.

Peace
James

Well put.