Valid ordination

[St.BJLabre]

Can an ordination ever be invalid if it is preformed on a baptized male by a bishop? My friend and I were having an argument. He says that if the person being ordained tries to deceive the bishop the ordination is not valid. He didn’t really elaborate on what he meant by deceiving the bishop, but lets just say the man was sexually active and lied about it. Would his ordination be valid? If not it seems kind of dangerous, that means there could be a bunch of priests out there administering invalid sacraments Thanks for the help.

 

[Brain]

A baptized male is the proper matter, not a male virgin, so dont worry about that.
However I guess if the ordinand did not understand what he was doing (hard to prove given how may years it takes and how many people interview you and scrutize you along the way) it would be null just as an improperly consented marraige is.

 

[tee_eff_em]

There are canonical impediments and irregularities to the reception of orders, just as to marriage. If the baptized male were able to deceive the bishop about one or more, I suppose his ordination would be invalid.

tee

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

St.BJLabre:

Can an ordination ever be invalid if it is preformed on a baptized male by a bishop? My friend and I were having an argument. He says that if the person being ordained tries to deceive the bishop the ordination is not valid. He didn’t really elaborate on what he meant by deceiving the bishop, but lets just say the man was sexually active and lied about it. Would his ordination be valid? If not it seems kind of dangerous, that means there could be a bunch of priests out there administering invalid sacraments Thanks for the help.

The only way an Ordination would be invalid is if any one of the proper FORM, MATTER, or INTENT elements of the Sacrament were invalid along with the possibility of an improper minister. Only a validly Ordained Bishop can Ordain. An Ordination can be received in a state of mortal sin which does not invalidate the Sacrament but would possibly block some of the Graces of the Sacrament.

 

[muledog]

Br. Rich SFO:

The only way an Ordination would be invalid is if any one of the proper FORM, MATTER, or INTENT elements of the Sacrament were invalid along with the possibility of an improper minister. Only a validly Ordained Bishop can Ordain. An Ordination can be received in a state of mortal sin which does not invalidate the Sacrament but would possibly block some of the Graces of the Sacrament.

To add to what Bro. Rich said, it is also necessary to have the proper MINISTER, as well as someone who is able to actually RECEIVE the sacrament (i.e., women cannot receive the sacrament of Holy Orders. Neither can a cat receive the sacrament of Baptism).

 

[St.BJLabre]

so in other words the ordination i described would be valid?

 

[Brain]

it depends what the deception was.

 

[Sean_O_L]

Brain wrote:

It depends what the deception was

For a modern-day example:

SSPXers - Lefebvre and his bishops were/are valid bishops and possessed the power to ordain and (presumably) possessed the Intention to ordain priests, and performed the ordinations using a correct form for ordination to the priesthood. Presumably also, those presenting themselves for ordination possessed the intention to become Catholic priests and to do what is required by the Church by Catholic priests.

In those circumstances - valid priests were ordained, albeit illicitly AND they possessed no jurisdiction to perform marriages or confessions. However, the Masses and Communions are valid but illicit.

Some of that number who have received the Sacrament of Holy Orders from Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and/or one of the bishops ordained by him immediately quit the SSPX - professing quite vehement sentiments in favor of sedevacantism. It seems apparent that they simply waited out their time to receive valid Ordination, keeping their intentions to quit secret. Even so, they are valid priests, for their over-riding intention was to become Catholic priests and to perform the duties required of Catholic priests.

Cf. novusordowatch.org/trytek-print.htm

There was another who did the same thing at or about the time “the nine” left the SSPX in the USA.