Married ordained converts becoming priests?

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yinekka

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At first I didn’t have a problem with a former maried clergyman becoming a Catholic priest but with two married priests hitting the headlines in the newspapers here in Australia I am having reservations.

The newspaper stories were complete with photos of one of the priests, wearing what looked liked vestments, with his children hugging and clinging to him. The other priest was pictured in vestments in front of the tabernacle with his wife.

The first priest said in the article that married priests was a good idea and he supported the ordination of women.

In Australia we have two priests’ organisations; one faithful - small membership and one dissident - large membership. The latter organisation is pushing for married priests, among other things, and these two men seem more than willing to lend their photos and stories to strengthen the cause.

What is your opinion on this matter?
 
So the parish will have to not only support the priest economically, but now his whole family?

Keep them single.
 
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mjdonnelly:
So the parish will have to not only support the priest economically, but now his whole family?

Keep them single.
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I think this is the exception rather than the rule.
And Eastern Catholics (of which I am not, but a frequent attender of Divine Liturgy) might have a real problem with your statement. Presbyteras and children contribute to the vibrancy of the Eastern parish.

I’m not advocating abandoning celibacy, but people have to remember, it ain’t women’s ordination. It can change, and might in this century.

Plus, if we looked at everything we saw on the internet or in the paper, with clown Masses and sex abuse crises, we would see an entire Body of Christ that has been sickened.

Bill
A sinner
 
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mjdonnelly:
So the parish will have to not only support the priest economically, but now his whole family.
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One of my best friends is a married priest.

His father is a priest.

His grandfather was a priest.

His brother is a priest and his sister is a nun.

The former pastor of my parish was a 5th generation priest. Unfortunately, the priestly vocation ended with him as he was ordained in this country.

I see no problem with a married clergy…
 
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mjdonnelly:
So the parish will have to not only support the priest economically, but now his whole family?

Keep them single.
Click to expand...
There’s a priest in a suburb of the city where I live, who is married. Yes, it is the exception, and not the rule. He was an (i think) episcopalian minister/pastor, and became Catholic. Supporting the family is one of the problems the parish is having.

Personally, I’m not too concerned about married priests, as long as we remember… letting priests marry is not the answer to the “we have too few priests” problem. We don’t want guys who say “well, i wasn’t going to be a priest, but since I can get married, okay, sure.” We want men who are willing to make the sacrifice for God.
 
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Patchunky:
Unfortunately, the priestly vocation ended with him as he was ordained in this country.
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Other countries allow Roman Catholic Priests to marry?
 
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mjdonnelly:
So the parish will have to not only support the priest economically, but now his whole family?

Keep them single.
Click to expand...
How is the parish supporting the entire parish payroll? Even small parishes have an entire staff nowadays. The idea that a parish will go bankrupt if priests were married went out with the stagecoach if not sooner.
 
There is a special provision for married Episcopalian and Lutheran clergy to become Catholic priests after they convert to Catholicism. It only applies to Lutherans and Episcopalians, no others. I forget what it is called. I believe that Fr. Ray Ryland was the first married Episcopalian clergyman to become a Catholic priest. If you Google his name, you should come up with some more info.

Peace,
Linda
 
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BillyT92679:
And Eastern Catholics (of which I am not, but a frequent attender of Divine Liturgy) might have a real problem with your statement. Presbyteras and children contribute to the vibrancy of the Eastern parish.
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I had heard that the Eastern Rite attnedees of the synod currently underway, have said that marriage does interfere with the priestly duties.
  • Kathie :bowdown:
 
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LindaS:
There is a special provision for married Episcopalian and Lutheran clergy to become Catholic priests after they convert to Catholicism. It only applies to Lutherans and Episcopalians, no others. I forget what it is called. I believe that Fr. Ray Ryland was the first married Episcopalian clergyman to become a Catholic priest. If you Google his name, you should come up with some more info.

Peace,
Linda
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I’m also aware of one former Methodist minister and one (possibly a couple) former CEC clergy. Also, I believe, some traditional Anglicans.
 
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harinkj:
I had heard that the Eastern Rite attnedees of the synod currently underway, have said that marriage does interfere with the priestly duties.
  • Kathie :bowdown:
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You seem to be posting this exact same comment in different threads, as below:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=80022&highlight=sefir

As in the other thread, the question has to be asked, HOW does marriage “interfere”? Of course married priests have to take care of their families, what married man does not? How is this an “interference” when celibate priests work in parishes of multiple lay employees, sometimes dozens, and are typically treated just like married lay employees in terms of vacation, paid time off, personnel files, etc.? The biggest difference is that the parish secretary can keep her job for possibly decades while the priest “married” to his parish is required to be transferred after a set “term.” We can’t have it both ways; if celibate priests are not to be intentionally overworked, how would marriage be “interfering” in parish duties?
 
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Catholic2003:
Other countries allow Eastern Catholic priests to marry.
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This isn’t correct.

Eastern Catholic priests ARE NOT permitted to marry.

Eastern Catholics ordain married men to the Diaconate and the Priesthood.

Hope this helps…
 
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Patchunky:
This isn’t correct.

Eastern Catholic priests ARE NOT permitted to marry.

Eastern Catholics ordain married men to the Diaconate and the Priesthood.

Hope this helps…
Click to expand...
Good point! I missed that.

I was focusing on the “Other countries” part of the sentence. Outside the U.S., Eastern Catholics ordain married men. In the U.S., it is unclear to me whether this is allowed, and in practice it seems to be the rare exception rather than the rule.
 
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