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ALLGIRLS
Guest
So…does he already have a woman lined up to marry, or does he plan on just fornicating?
In Christ,
Ellen
In Christ,
Ellen
R
rlg94086
Guest
God bless him in his journey. It is a shame he couldn’t keep the solemn vow he made, but it is better for him to resign than to break the vow in other ways. I hope the Archbishop provides the parish with a faithful priest to replace him.
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rlg94086
Guest
Well, he says he will remain a practicing Catholic. In charity, one would assume that he has either fallen in love with a woman or plans to start dating and find a spouse…with no intention of engaging in sexual sin. We are all called to chastity - former priests included.
Does anyone know the canonical status for a resigning priest? If he resigns and intends to breaks his vow, is he then free to marry? Or, does he have to get something similar to an annulment?
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curlycool89
Guest
I thought that only the Pope could dispense a priest from his promise of celibacy. I think I read in another thread here that a priest could validly enter into a marriage, but it would be illicit (unless he was laicized & dispensed I would guess).
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The_Geographer
Guest
Incorrect. he could never marry validly without the proper dispensation(s).
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manualman
Guest
Don’t be too hard on him. I would much rather that priests who are abandoning their vocations and mission be honest about it than try to remain in the priesthood, collect a paycheck from the parish and spout anti-catholic opinions from the pulpit. He’s at least being honest.
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rlg94086
Guest
I agree. From the article, I didn’t see anything negative being said - just that he struggled with the decision. I hope this is the case, and that he doesn’t become a voice of dissension.
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curlycool89
Guest
I don’t know, I got the information from a brother on this site. Remember, a secular priest only makes a promise of celibacy, not a vow. Since marriage is a vow, it would “override” a promise (it would definitely be illicit though without a dispensation).
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CatholicCid
Guest
I believe I would have to differ with that quote. A secular priest is still a priest and has received Holy Orders. Holy Orders seems to be an impediment to marraige. He would need to be laicized to attempt a valid marriage.
According to the relevant canons:
TITLE VII. MARRIAGE (Cann. 1055 - 1165)
- CHAPTER II. DIRIMENT IMPEDIMENTS IN GENERAL
Can. 1078 §1. The local ordinary can dispense his own subjects residing anywhere and all actually present in his own territory from all impediments of ecclesiastical law except those whose dispensation is reserved to the Apostolic See.
§2. Impediments whose dispensation is reserved to the Apostolic See are:
1/ the impediment arising from sacred orders or from a public perpetual vow of chastity in a religious institute of pontifical right;
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The_Magisterium
Guest
Celibacy and the priestly ministry is a sacrifice …
The married vocation is a sacrifice …
This priest (especially after 30 years of priesthood) is going to be seriously disappointed if he thinks that marriage alone is going to make him happy …
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The_Geographer
Guest
This is an interesting research project. I may point to the fact that a secular priest, otherwise known as diocesan priest, could in fact be married. However, the fact that celibacy is a discipline may have something to do with this. However, assuming what you’ve said is accurate [true], I don’t know without digging deeper at this point.
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NewEnglandPriest
Guest
Where in the article does it say that he is currently sleeping with anyone?
And, of course, I assume you’re not limiting celibacy to simply not having sex…
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MJE
Guest
The most glaring & *interesting *aspect of this story, I think, is the fact it is published front page, right under the fold, with a photo, in The Oregonian. The Oregonian is out of Portland and the biggest newspaper south of Seattle and north of San Fran.
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ALLGIRLS
Guest
The article says he’s leaving the priesthood because he can no longer live his vow of celibacy. So, unless he’s got a marriage already in the works, he’s still going to be celibate for quite awhile, as that’s the same call to chastity that unmarried nonpriests and nonreligious are called to, as well (no Catholics are supposed to be masturbating, either, in case you’re thinking he can go that route). Just seems kind of fishy, is all (the whole front page story thing seems a bit much, too, as another poster pointed out).
In Christ,
Ellen
T
The_Geographer
Guest
Part of the problem is that priests often feel isolated. That is one of the main reasons they are ordered or obligated to recite the Divine Office. The Divine Office will make anyone holy. But if the person feels undetermined to stick it out, especially in that he feels called to marriage instead of the priesthood, there is not much anyone can do anymore than a person that divorces may believe they were not truly in an open relationship in marriage…open to marriage I mean. It sounds to me that he does not possess the skill sets required to remain faithful to his vocation. It would be like a married man that doesn’t remind himself regularly he is married by wooing his wife and engaging in sweet talk with her. God is the lover of our soul. Priests are supposed to be what we will all be like in eternal life…
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