Ordination and Criminal Records

[sma]

A priest who is the chaplain for a maximum security prison has seen major conversion among some of the prisoners. One of them, who is Catholic, asked the priest if he could be ordained as a priest even though he has been convicted of a crime and has a record. Father did not know how to answer, so I am asking for him.

 

[tee_eff_em]

It depends, in part, on the nature of the crime(s) he has committed. (NB 1041.4 and .5 – Some crimes may also be judge symptomatic of insanity (1041.1))

Can. 1040 Those bound by an impediment are to be barred from the reception of orders. An impediment may be simple; or it may be perpetual, in which case it is called an irregularity. No impediment is contracted which is not contained in the following canons.

Can. 1041 The following persons are irregular for the reception of orders:

1° one who suffers from any form of insanity, or from any other psychological infirmity, because of which he is, after experts have been consulted, judged incapable of being able to fulfil the ministry;

2° one who has committed the offence of apostasy, heresy or schism;

3° one who has attempted marriage, even a civil marriage, either while himself prevented from entering marriage whether by an existing marriage bond or by a sacred order or by a public and perpetual vow of chastity, or with a woman who is validly married or is obliged by the same vow;

4° one who has committed wilful homicide, or one who has actually procured an abortion, and all who have positively cooperated;

5° one who has gravely and maliciously mutilated himself or another, or who has attempted suicide;

6° one who has carried out an act of order which is reserved to those in the order of the episcopate or priesthood, while himself either not possessing that order or being barred from its exercise by some canonical penalty, declared or imposed.