H
h1478971
Guest
how does a priest get out of being a priest ? say he falls in love with a women and wants to marry
- Status
S
SonCatcher
Guest
He doesn’t. Once consecrated, a man is always a priest.
He may petition to be laicized. At this point, he would no longer possess faculties to perform the duties of a priest (he can no longer celebrate Mass at all or hear confessions except in danger of death).
He may petition to be laicized. At this point, he would no longer possess faculties to perform the duties of a priest (he can no longer celebrate Mass at all or hear confessions except in danger of death).
F
frteatao
Guest
Shalom
If he chooses to leave deliberately like you said wanting to marry someone, I suggest he must inform his superior or his Bishop. If the discussion resulted in his decision to leave and get marry, and let say he just walk away and get married. Canon 1394 paragraph 1; states in its commentary that ‘he is guilty of an offence, known as attempted marriage…’. Therefore ‘A cleric who is guilty of this offence incurs a latae sententiae suspension.’ Canon 194 paragraph 1 strongly says that if a priest is intended to get married he is punishable by removal from ecclesiastical office.
God bless.
If he chooses to leave deliberately like you said wanting to marry someone, I suggest he must inform his superior or his Bishop. If the discussion resulted in his decision to leave and get marry, and let say he just walk away and get married. Canon 1394 paragraph 1; states in its commentary that ‘he is guilty of an offence, known as attempted marriage…’. Therefore ‘A cleric who is guilty of this offence incurs a latae sententiae suspension.’ Canon 194 paragraph 1 strongly says that if a priest is intended to get married he is punishable by removal from ecclesiastical office.
God bless.
C
Cristiano
Guest
A priest cannot get out of being a priest. Becoming a priest is an ontological change like baptism, it cannot be undone. However, under special circumstances a priest can ask to be laicized and so he does not have the permission to act as a priest except in extreme circumstances. There is the case of an Irish priest that asked and received permission to be laicized and he got married, after years of being a widow he received permission from the Vatican to have his faculties back and after spending sometime in a seminar for refresher courses he was reinstated as a priest in a parish. It is important to understand that there is no re-ordination and there cannot be a re-baptism because once it happened it is there forever.
M
Matthew_Holford
Guest
Once a priest, always a priest. A priest can asked to be laicized. This is requested from the Holy See. If he wanted to be free to marry he would also need to request to be released from his obligation to celibacy. This is not automatically granted with laicization.
S
SeekNFind
Guest
What if a deacon who was never married and took the vows of celibacy, etc was in the same situation? If he petitions to be allowed to marry, can he still be a deacon since married men can be deacons?
R
rom422
Guest
Yes, he can continue to be a deacon. But he must first obtain a dispensation from his vow before he can get married. It would be easier to get this dispensation if he only made a temporary vow of celibacy, but if it is permanent … then I don’t know. We need a canon law expert to answer that, and I am not one.
M
Matthew_Holford
Guest
The simple answer is no! Men in holy orders (deacons and priests) cannot marry.
First, may I point out that secular deacons don’t take vows. During their ordination they commit themselves to a life of celibacy rather than make a vow.
Married men may become deacons. However, deacons cannot marry. That general rule applies throughout all the Catholic churches. In the Latin (or Roman) Catholic Church married men may become deacons but deacons cannot marry. In the Eastern Catholic Churches married men can become deacons and then go on to become priests. However, deacons and priests cannot marry.
If a married deacon is widowed he cannot re-marry. If a former Protestant minister becomes a Catholic even if he’s married he may become a Catholic priest. If he’s widowed he can’t remarry.
In summary, in some circumstances married men are admitted to holy orders. Single men already in holy orders are not allowed to marry.
To save anyone else having to I will give you the known exception: sometimes if a married sacred minister is widowed and he has a number of young children he might be allowed to re-marry.
To give a full treatment of this issue: married men may never be appointed as bishops.
Of course, all this is Church discipline not doctrine. Therefore, the Church could make an exception if She wanted and She could change the rules if She chose.
S
SeekNFind
Guest
Thanks for your reply. I wasn’t aware you could do a temporary vow of celibacy. . .
Thank you for your reply. I was asking about the possibility of an exception and while it’s technically *possible *it’s obviously not the preferred course of action.
M
Matthew_Holford
Guest
The Church may make exceptions to any ecclesiastical law. Does she? It depends on the law. With regards to allowing deacons or priests to marry: that is extremely rare.
C
cefeida
Guest
that’s right dude 
S
SeekNFind
Guest
Thank you.
E
Evan
Guest
As I understand it, it is usually considered when a deacon is widowed and there are young children involve. The Church believes it is best for children to be raised in a home with both a mother and a father.
M
Matthew_Holford
Guest
That’s right but it’s not a given. Each individual case is judged on its merits. I don’t think it happens that often.
- Status